The European Commission has expressed concern regarding the increasing erosion of fundamental freedoms in both Hong Kong and Macau. This viewpoint is derived from annual reports for these regions, which the Brussels authorities published this Tuesday and forwarded to the European Parliament and the Council.
The report covering Macau details developments in 2025, highlighting that the increasing emphasis on national security continues to undermine fundamental liberties on the ground. A notable example is the arrest of former pro-democracy deputy Au Kam San, who was detained on allegations of “collaboration with foreign forces.” This was the first arrest made under the new National Security Law, and Au Kam San remains in pre-trial detention. Furthermore, in October, the independent media company “All About Macau” announced its closure, citing increasing pressure and risk following the government’s revocation of its operational registration.
The report concerning Hong Kong addresses the continuous focus on national security five years after the introduction of the National Security Law. In 2025, legal proceedings continued against pro-democracy activists, supporters, and politicians under the National Security Law and related statutes. Authorities also initiated new prosecutions on national security grounds. Activist Joshua Wong was subsequently re-charged with “conspiring to collaborate with foreign forces,” despite already serving a sentence related to a subversion case. Separately, the father of the exiled activist Anna Kwok faced criminal charges for attempting to manage his daughter’s financial assets-marking the first instance where a relative of a sought-after activist was charged in connection with a national security violation.
