Instant International
Written by: Ou Jingluo
2021-01-26 11:26
Last update date: 2021-01-26 11:28
The German Parliament held a public hearing on the Hong Kong National Security Law and China's alleged suppression of human rights in Hong Kong on January 25.
Petra Sigmund, Director of the Asia-Pacific Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said the EU is considering imposing sanctions.
The picture shows Hong Kong celebrating the 23rd anniversary of its return to China on July 1, 2020.
(Getty)
Radio France International (RFI) reported that Germany was holding a public hearing in response to a petition in Congress in July 2020.
Sigmund stated that Germany has repeatedly mentioned the human rights issue in Hong Kong to China and criticized the Hong Kong police for suppressing peaceful demonstrations and undermining the EU's trust in China in fulfilling its international obligations.
Germany has suspended its extradition agreement with Hong Kong in 2020 and stopped exporting to Hong Kong materials that may be used to suppress human rights.
Germany used the EU's rotating presidency to establish an EU sanctions mechanism against human rights violations, the European version of the Magnitsky Act (Magnitsky Act).
Sigmund said that EU countries are closely monitoring the situation in Hong Kong and will consider adopting this mechanism to respond.
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The meeting also mentioned that the petitioners hope that Germany can amend the regulations to allow more Hong Kong people to settle in Germany.
Sigmund said that Germany has relaxed the residency regulations for Hong Kong people and requires relevant departments to provide convenience when Hong Kong people apply for visa extensions.
Sigmund also revealed that 4 Hong Kong residents have been granted political asylum in Germany so far.
01News
Hong Kong version of the national security law, Germany, China-EU relations