Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance was offered to Alexandra Wilson during her detention and on her release.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Consular staff offered Ms Wilson and her family consular assistance on a regular basis in line with our Consular charter: Support for British Nationals Abroad.
Consular staff at our Embassy in Beijing were informed on 31 October by Ms Wilson's friends of her arrest. Consular staff called the Chinese police and Dou Ge Zhuang Detention Centre on the 31 October and 1 November but the Chinese authorities would not provide any information on the detention.
After many phone calls consular officers were permitted a 30 minute visit on Monday 3 November. At this time it was confirmed that Ms Wilson was being held for working on an incorrect visa. In line with Chinese law the Chinese police (PSB) stated that it was likely that Ms Wilson would be held for an undetermined period of time and then deported. On 5 November consular staff phoned the PSB who stated that there was no clear release date as yet. Consular officers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London were in daily contact with Ms Wilson’s mother.
On 6 November a Note Verbale was sent to the Chinese authorities expressing concerns over Ms Wilson's health issues and on 7 November our political team wrote to the Chinese Embassy in London highlighting Miss Wilson’s case.
Follow up phone calls were made on 10, 13, 14 and 17 November from consular officers to the PSB regarding a release date. On the 17 November the PSB confirmed that Ms Wilson would be deported on 19 November.
Consular officers in London followed up on 23 November to check with Ms Wilson that she arrived safely back in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the reaction of consular officials in Beijing to the detention of Alexandra Wilson by Chinese authorities was adequate.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Consular staff offered Ms Wilson and her family consular assistance on a regular basis in line with our Consular charter: Support for British Nationals Abroad.
Consular staff at our Embassy in Beijing were informed on 31 October by Ms Wilson's friends of her arrest. Consular staff called the Chinese police and Dou Ge Zhuang Detention Centre on the 31 October and 1 November but the Chinese authorities would not provide any information on the detention.
After many phone calls consular officers were permitted a 30 minute visit on Monday 3 November. At this time it was confirmed that Ms Wilson was being held for working on an incorrect visa. In line with Chinese law the Chinese police (PSB) stated that it was likely that Ms Wilson would be held for an undetermined period of time and then deported. On 5 November consular staff phoned the PSB who stated that there was no clear release date as yet. Consular officers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London were in daily contact with Ms Wilson’s mother.
On 6 November a Note Verbale was sent to the Chinese authorities expressing concerns over Ms Wilson's health issues and on 7 November our political team wrote to the Chinese Embassy in London highlighting Miss Wilson’s case.
Follow up phone calls were made on 10, 13, 14 and 17 November from consular officers to the PSB regarding a release date. On the 17 November the PSB confirmed that Ms Wilson would be deported on 19 November.
Consular officers in London followed up on 23 November to check with Ms Wilson that she arrived safely back in the UK.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether action has been taken by British consular officials since the release of Alexandra Wilson to seek an explanation for her detention; if so, what action, and if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Consular staff in Beijing were informed on 3 November that Ms Wilson was being held for working illegally in China on a “Z” visa. Ms Wilson was detained in accordance with Chinese immigration law. There are no plans to follow up with the Chinese authorities as they have explained the reason for the detention.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they propose to take if no explanation for the detention of Alexandra Wilson is received from the government of China.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Consular staff in Beijing were informed on 3 November that Ms Wilson was being held for working illegally in China on a “Z” visa. Ms Wilson was detained in accordance with Chinese immigration law. There are no plans to follow up with the Chinese authorities as they have explained the reason for the detention.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anelay of St Johns on 17 December 2014 (HL3529), what further attempts have been made to gain an explanation from the government of China for the detention of Alexandra Wilson.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Consular staff in Beijing were informed on 3 November that Ms Wilson was being held for working illegally in China on a “Z” visa. Ms Wilson was detained in accordance with Chinese immigration law. There are no plans to follow up with the Chinese authorities as they have explained the reason for the detention.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what advice the Foreign and Commonwealth Office make available to British citizens intending to visit China who have been granted a visa to travel.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes travel advice for 225 countries and territories, including China. This includes information and advice about the risks from terrorism, crime and natural disasters, as well as advice on entry requirements, restrictions on internal travel, and local laws and customs. Current travel advice is available on our website at: https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/china.
A copy of the current travel advice for China is attached.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they intend to make to the government of China following the release from detention of British citizen Alexandra Wilson; and whether they intend to request an explanation.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
At Ms Wilson’s mother’s request our Embassy in Beijing has written to the Chinese authorities asking for an explanation for these delays. There has been no response to our request as yet.Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what attempts were made to contact British citizen Alexandra Wilson during her detention in China; and by whom.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Consular Officers from our Embassy in Beijing made repeated phone calls to the police and Dou Ge Zhuang Detention Centre, and were permitted a 30 minute visit with Ms Wilson on Monday 3 November. Consular officers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London were in daily contact with Ms Wilson’s mother.Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government when they became aware of the detention by Chinese authorities of British citizen Alexandra Wilson.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
Consular Staff at our Embassy in Beijing were informed of Ms Wilson’s arrest by her friends on 31st October.
Asked by: Lord Eames (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of China on the detention for 21 days of British citizen Alexandra Wilson and her subsequent release without explanation.
Answered by Baroness Anelay of St Johns
On 6th November a Note Verbale was sent to the Chinese authorities expressing Ms Wilson’s doctors concerns over her health issues and on 7th November our political team wrote to the Chinese Embassy in London highlighting Ms Wilson’s case. A number of Follow up phone calls were by Consular officers to the Public Security Bureau regarding a release date or a further Consular visit.