Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the decision of the Chinese government to freeze the pensions of Hongkongers with British passports; and if she will make a statement.

We are aware of the difficulties British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) passport holders are experiencing in seeking early withdrawal of their pension held by the Mandatory Provident Fund in Hong Kong. The root of the problem is the Chinese Government's decision not to recognise the British National (Overseas) passport. The UK firmly opposes the discrimination against BN(O)s in this way. We have urged the Hong Kong authorities to facilitate the early withdrawal of funds as is the case for other Hong Kong residents who move overseas permanently. I raised this issue with Christopher Hui, Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury on 18 April and pressed for a pragmatic solution.