Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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33. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his position on the continued detention of the political prisoner (details supplied) in Hong Kong, on efforts made by his Department to raise the case with Chinese authorities; if he is concerned by the use by China of its national security law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46782/24]

Micheál Martin (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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Ireland has repeatedly expressed deep concern about the situation in Hong Kong since the introduction of the National Security Law in June 2020. The National Security Law, together with the subsequent Article 23 legislation, adopted in March 2023 introduces crimes such as treason, sedition and collusion with foreign forces, and allows for trials to be held behind closed doors. Such legislation has a chilling effect on fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong and risks undermining the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong under the One Country, Two Systems principle. Ireland was among a number of EU Member States to suspend its Extradition Agreement with Hong Kong, as a result of this worrying legislation.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has also followed the specific case of Jimmy Lai with concern since his arrest in August 2020.

The Tánaiste raised Ireland’s concerns about developments in Hong Kong when he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing in November 2023. Then-Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, also raised Ireland’s deep concerns with regard to Hong Kong at his meeting with Premier Li Qiang during his visit to Ireland last January.

Mr. Lai's case is among several cases which highlight issues related to media freedom in Hong Kong. As a member of the Media Freedom Coalition, a group of countries for which this is a priority issue, Ireland joined a statement in September 2024, expressing our concern regarding the suppression of media freedom in Hong Kong, following the guilty verdict of the Stand News editors in August 2024.

Ireland also frequently raises our concerns about the National Security Law in Hong Kong at the UN Human Rights Council (HRC). We flagged the situation during the Universal Periodic Review of China at the Human Rights Council in January 2024 and, most recently in September 2024, Ireland expressed concern about the continued erosion of fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong at the 57th session of the HRC.

In November 2024, in the margins of the UN General Assembly, my officials met with Mr. Lai’s international legal team and received an update of recent developments and concerns regarding the ongoing case.

Mr. Lai’s trial resumed in Hong Kong on 6 January 2025. Officials at Ireland's Consulate General in Hong Kong have been observing the trial, alongside EU colleagues, since the beginning.

The Government remains committed to ensuring that human rights remains on the agenda with China, and we will continue to raise our concerns with regard to the situation in Hong Kong, at the bilateral and multilateral level.