European Commission and European External Action Service issue 2016 Annual Report on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

The European Commission and the European External Action Service (EEAS) have today adopted their 19th annual report to the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on political and economic developments in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) in 2016. The European Union adheres to its ‘one China’ policy and supports the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and its implementation.

2016 was a politically challenging year for the Hong Kong SAR and for the functioning of the ‘one country, two systems’ principle. The year was marked by the emergence of political groups advocating self-determination or even independence, the Mong Kok riot, Legislative Council elections and the disqualification of two pro-independence lawmakers, the decision by the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) to issue an interpretation of the Basic Law provisions on oath taking, voting for the Election Committee, and preparations for the Chief Executive elections.

The case of the five book publishers who went missing in 2015, which the EU regards as the most serious challenge to the Basic Law and the ‘one country, two systems’ principle since the 1997 handover, continued to unfold, and the circumstances of their disappearance have yet to be clarified.

Despite the above-mentioned issues, the report concludes that overall the ‘one country, two systems’ principle continued to work well in 2016. The judiciary continued to demonstrate its independence and adherence to due process, despite being confronted with several politically-sensitive judicial reviews and the NPCSC’s interpretation of the Basic Law. The rule of law remained the guiding principle for the government, economic stakeholders and the population at large. Anti-corruption action remained strong and good governance indicators were positive. Freedom of speech and freedom of information were generally upheld. However, negative trends were observed with regard to press freedom and in the publishing industry as a result of caution and self-censorship on the part of those reporting on domestic and foreign policy developments in the People’s Republic of China.

Trade, economic and cultural relations between the European Union and Hong Kong have been growing steadily. As in previous years, the European Union was Hong Kong’s second largest trading partner after mainland China, while Hong Kong was the EU’s 14th largest trading partner in goods and a key partner for trade in services. The EU is looking forward to further strengthening and expanding its relations with the Hong Kong SAR.

The EU hopes that the Hong Kong SAR and China’s central government will resume electoral reform in Hong Kong in line with the Basic Law and reach an agreement on an election system that is democratic, fair, open and transparent. Universal suffrage would give the government greater public support and legitimacy in pursuing Hong Kong’s economic objectives and tackling social challenges such as the socio-economic and generational divides in Hong Kong society.

The full report is available here: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=JOIN:2017:16:FIN



European Commission and the European External Action Service issue 2016 Annual Report on the Macao Special Administrative

The European Commission and the European External Action Service have adopted their latest annual report to the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers on political and economic developments in the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), covering 2016.

Since the handover of Macao to China in 1999, the European Union and its Member States have been closely following political and economic developments under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle. The European Union adheres to its ‘one China’ policy and supports the ‘one country, two systems’ principle and its implementation in Macao.

The European Union believes that, notwithstanding some challenges, the ‘one country, two systems’ principle has generally continued to work well in 2016, to the benefit of Macao and China as a whole, and of the international community. EU-Macao relations continued to flourish, with a growing portfolio of cooperation activities and solid trade relations. The EU is looking forward to further strengthening and expanding its relations with the Macao SAR. The European Union reiterates its commitment to democracy, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and rights in Macao.

The full report is available here: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=JOIN:2017:15:FIN



Press release – Fate of EU – Turkey relations to be debated Wednesday

The outcome of Turkey’s referendum, expanding presidential powers, will be debated with EU enlargement commissioner Johannes Hahn on Wednesday at around 17.30.

MEPs are expected to comment on the future of EU-Turkey relations and accession talks, as the referendum outcome allows the powers of Turkey’s President to be expanded from 2019, which would compromise the separation of powers and the system of checks and balances.

You can watch the plenary debate via EP Live, and EbS+.

#Turkey

You can embed the video of the live debate on your website:



Corbyn and May 'running scared' of TV debates, says Lucas

26 April 2017

Caroline Lucas, the Green Party co-leader, has accused both the Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition of ‘running scared’ of national television debates after Jeremy Corbyn’s spokesperson said that the Labour leader wouldn’t take part without Theresa May’s involvement. 

Caroline Lucas said:

“Both the Prime Minister and leader of the Opposition are running scared of the TV debates. Our democracy deserves better than this. Theresa May should commit to doing the TV debates, and Jeremy Corbyn shouldn’t be afraid to ‘empty chair’ the Prime Minister and debate with the other parties. A failure by both Corbyn and May to appear in the television debates would be a dereliction of their duty as party leaders.”

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Desperate SNP ‘running scared’ after plea to Greens

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26 Apr 2017

Ross Thomson

The SNP is “running scared” after begging the Greens not to stand candidates in seats it thinks could be vulnerable.

MP Tommy Sheppard said the Greens would “have to choose” when it came to certain constituencies in a bid “not to split the pro-Yes vote”.

The Greens’ “co-convener” Maggie Chapman has already hinted at support for “non-Green candidates” in parts of the country, so long as they’re backing separation.

In 2015, 31 Green candidates stood in the General Election, losing the deposit in all but three seats.

The Scottish Conservatives have warned the party to “put up or shut up”, adding that its core voters wouldn’t forgive lying down to the SNP.

Scottish Conservative candidate for Aberdeen South Ross Thomson said:

“The Greens have to put up or shut up.

“They can’t pretend to be a proper party while sitting this election out and begging its voters to back someone else.

“That’s a shameful approach, and any genuine Green voter will be disgusted with it.

“It’s also very telling that the SNP has taken this step.

“It shows the party is rattled and running scared, and its MPs right across Scotland are terrified of losing their seats.

“So they should be. People are sick of the nationalists’ rabble-rousing on separation, and this latest intervention will just put more people off.”

  • Maggie Chapman said that she would be happy to support ‘non-Green candidates’ and that the Party would not stand in constituencies that it had previously lost its deposit in. ‘I would be quite happy for us to support non-Green candidates if it meant getting Tories out of Scotland and making sure we had elected representatives who walk the walk of the politics of the new Scotland we want to see…. I think what we need to do is use this as an opportunity to talk about the kind of Scotland we want to see, the kind of politics we want to see, and I’m hopeful we can agree to say let’s back the candidates who offer those kinds of views and that kind of outlook for Scotland. I don’t see us standing in seats in areas where we lost deposits last time.……I’ve always advocated political co-operation. I think it’s an important element of how we do politics as Greens and this is possibly an opportunity for us to put this belief into practice, to work with it to make sure we see a more forward and outward-looking representation for people.’ (The National, 19 April 2017, link).
  • Patrick Harvie said that the Greens had to ‘weigh up’ reducing the number of Scottish Conservative MPs and staying true to their ‘principles’ and ‘the reasons we’re in politics at all’. ‘The question of course for independence supporters is how the cause can be advanced in the context of this snap election…. Few people would wager a pint of beer against the SNP winning most of Scotland’s constituencies in June, but I dare say not many would bet heavy on them winning 50 per cent of the vote single-handed…. So as all our parties approach an election we didn’t expect, we have a lot to weigh up. How to minimise the Tory presence in all our lives, and the reach of their odious policies. How to successfully reassert the mandate for an independence vote. And how to stay true to our principles and the reasons we’re in politics at all’ (The National, 20 April 2017, link).
  • The SNP have ordered the Greens to not split ‘the pro-Yes vote’ and to stop ‘targeting’ SNP marginals. Tommy Sheppard said: ‘I know the Greens will want to stand some candidates but I also know they have never stood everywhere. So they are going to have to choose. They will want to stand some candidates as they are a national party and will want to put their case to their base, but in deciding which seats to contest and not to contest I think they should be mindful of not splitting the pro-Yes vote and certainly not splitting the anti-Tory vote.’ Referring to Edinburgh South particularly he said ‘It’s not a four way marginal with the Greens, it’s a three way marginal and in those circumstances I don’t think the Greens should be targeting that sort of seat.’ (The National, 26 April 2017, link).
  • Patrick Harvie has recently said that the Greens could enter into a formal coalition with the SNP in the Scottish Parliament. ‘Absolutely. I think the idea of remaining in opposition for all time isn’t one that’s attractive to any political party. If you believe in proportional representation you believe in a fair balance of political parties across parliament and coalition is the most likely way for a government to form a majority. The previous session, where there was a single party majority, was, I think, an aberration, and I don’t think it’s likely to happen again.’ (Daily Record, 18 April 2017, link).
  • In the 2015 General Election the Scottish Greens stood candidates in a record 31 constituencies. However, they were only able to save their deposit in three Edinburgh East, Edinburgh North and Leith and Glasgow North (Scottish Greens, 22 February 2015, link).