Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he plans to allow Hong Kongers who are being processed as asylum seekers to apply for BNO visas at the same time.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
Applicants to the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route must have no serious criminal convictions, have not otherwise engaged in behaviour which the UK Government deems not conducive to the public good, or be subject to other general grounds for refusal set out in the Immigration Rules. However, we recognise that every case has its individual circumstances therefore caseworkers have flexibility to ensure that those who have custodial sentences for crimes which are not recognised as such in the UK are not automatically refused on the BN(O) route.
In most cases, a person with a pending asylum claim can make an application to the BN(O) route. Recent changes ensure that a person who has been placed on immigration bail due to a pending asylum claim will not have their application to the BN(O) route refused solely for that reason. To make a successful application, applicants will need to meet all the other requirements of the route.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to help protect Hong Kong (a) asylum seekers and (b) BNO visa holders who have settled in the UK from the Hong Kong authorities.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The Government continually assesses potential threats in the UK, and takes protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety very seriously.
We will not tolerate any attempts by the authorities of Hong Kong or China, or any other country to intimidate and silence individuals in the UK and overseas. The UK will always defend the universal right to freedom of expression and stand up for those who are targeted.
DLUHC, Home Office and FCDO regularly engage with a wide range of British Nationals Overseas (BN(O)) community groups. While it is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on security and intelligence matters, where we identify individuals at heightened risk, we are front footed in deploying protective security guidance and other measures as appropriate.
Furthermore, The Defending Democracy Taskforce is reviewing the UK’s approach to transnational repression to ensure we have a robust and joined up response across government and law enforcement.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what review his Department is undertaking of asylum applications by people from Hong Kong who have been involved in pro-democracy campaigns; and what his planned timescale is for that review.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
The UK has a proud history of providing protection to those who need it with half a million individuals on humanitarian routes since 2015. All asylum claims admitted to the UK asylum system receive careful consideration. We will not remove anyone to their own, or any other country, where they would face persecution or serious harm.
Asylum decision makers carefully consider each claimant’s protection needs by assessing all the evidence provided by the claimant in light of published country information guidance. They receive extensive training on considering asylum claims and must follow published Home Office policy guidance. This includes any claims received from people from Hong Kong.
Those from Hong Kong may also be eligible for the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) route which was launched following China’s imposition of the National Security Law in Hong Kong. To be eligible for the route, applicants must have BN(O) status, or be the eligible family member of someone with BN(O) status.
The Home Office is currently not undertaking a specific review into asylum applications by people from Hong Kong who have been involved in pro-democracy campaigns.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, if he will make an assessment of the adequacy of the International Red Cross's processes in ensuring that funding is not distributed to projects that support proscribed organisations.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The FCDO has controls in place to ensure that UK aid goes direct to intended beneficiaries, and for its intended purposes. The FCDO carries out due diligence assessments of UK aid partners to ensure they have procedures in place to manage the risk of aid diversion, including the risk of support to proscribed terrorist groups. We assess that our aid partners, including the Red Cross Movement which plays a vital role in ensuring that people in need can be reached and protected in times of armed conflict, have adequate processes in place to ensure that aid reaches those that need it most.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether Ministers have met their Sierra Leone counterparts (a) virtually and (b) in person since the elections in that country on 24 June 2023; and whether any Ministerial visits to that country are planned.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK has engaged stakeholders including the government, opposition, election bodies and the international community, before and after the 24 June elections. We have given consistent messaging on good governance, the rule of law and the importance of an inclusive democracy that works for all. The UK remains committed to supporting a democratic, peaceful and prosperous Sierra Leone.
The UK commends the signing of the Agreement for National Cohesion on 18 October as part of the peace dialogue between the Government of Sierra Leone and opposition following the elections. We are coordinating closely with international partners to support implementation of the Agreement, including a national election review committee, a review of political prisoners and inter-party dialogue. These reforms are essential to strengthen the democratic process before elections in 2028.
The former Foreign Secretary spoke to President Bio on 8 August and, most recently, I [Minister Mitchell] met the Minister for the Environment, who represented Sierra Leone at COP28. There will be further opportunities for Ministers to meet, including at the UK-African Investment Summit. Officials in London engage with the Sierra Leone High Commissioner and his team to discuss current issues in Sierra Leone.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether he has summoned the ambassador of Sierra Leone to explain political developments in that country.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK has engaged stakeholders including the government, opposition, election bodies and the international community, before and after the 24 June elections. We have given consistent messaging on good governance, the rule of law and the importance of an inclusive democracy that works for all. The UK remains committed to supporting a democratic, peaceful and prosperous Sierra Leone.
The UK commends the signing of the Agreement for National Cohesion on 18 October as part of the peace dialogue between the Government of Sierra Leone and opposition following the elections. We are coordinating closely with international partners to support implementation of the Agreement, including a national election review committee, a review of political prisoners and inter-party dialogue. These reforms are essential to strengthen the democratic process before elections in 2028.
The former Foreign Secretary spoke to President Bio on 8 August and, most recently, I [Minister Mitchell] met the Minister for the Environment, who represented Sierra Leone at COP28. There will be further opportunities for Ministers to meet, including at the UK-African Investment Summit. Officials in London engage with the Sierra Leone High Commissioner and his team to discuss current issues in Sierra Leone.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what assessment his Department has made of the strength of the (a) rule of law and (b) electoral process in Sierra Leone.
Answered by Andrew Mitchell - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office) (Minister for Development)
The UK has engaged stakeholders including the government, opposition, election bodies and the international community, before and after the 24 June elections. We have given consistent messaging on good governance, the rule of law and the importance of an inclusive democracy that works for all. The UK remains committed to supporting a democratic, peaceful and prosperous Sierra Leone.
The UK commends the signing of the Agreement for National Cohesion on 18 October as part of the peace dialogue between the Government of Sierra Leone and opposition following the elections. We are coordinating closely with international partners to support implementation of the Agreement, including a national election review committee, a review of political prisoners and inter-party dialogue. These reforms are essential to strengthen the democratic process before elections in 2028.
The former Foreign Secretary spoke to President Bio on 8 August and, most recently, I [Minister Mitchell] met the Minister for the Environment, who represented Sierra Leone at COP28. There will be further opportunities for Ministers to meet, including at the UK-African Investment Summit. Officials in London engage with the Sierra Leone High Commissioner and his team to discuss current issues in Sierra Leone.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether his Department is taking steps to help protect people from Hong Kong who want to protest near the Chinese (a) Embassy and (b) Consulate in advance of the national security trial of Jimmy Lai in December 2023.
Answered by Chris Philp - Minister of State (Home Office)
Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights set out that everyone has the right to freedom of expression, assembly and association. This government will always fully support these rights, including the right of individuals to engage in peaceful protest.
It is a long-standing tradition in this country that people are free to gather together and to demonstrate their views, provided that they do so within the law.
The management of demonstrations is an operational matter for the police. In certain circumstances, the police have a duty to take reasonable steps to protect those who want to exercise their rights peacefully.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what support the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong has given to imprisoned 75-year-old British citizen, Jimmy Lai, in the lead up to his trial due to take place on 18th December 2023.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to press for consular access to Jimmy Lai and call for his release. Diplomats at our Consulate-General in Hong Kong continue to attend his court proceedings. The Foreign Secretary and I met with Jimmy's son Sebastien on 12 December to listen to his concerns for his father ahead of the trial starting in Hong Kong on 18 December. The Foreign Secretary raised Jimmy's case with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in their introductory call on 5 December, setting out his concern at the highly politicised nature of the prosecution.
Asked by: Neil Coyle (Labour - Bermondsey and Old Southwark)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether the British Consulate-General in Hong Kong has contacted Jimmy Lai during his detention in Stanley Prison.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We continue to press for consular access to Jimmy Lai and call for his release. Diplomats at our Consulate-General in Hong Kong continue to attend his court proceedings. The Foreign Secretary and I met with Jimmy's son Sebastien on 12 December to listen to his concerns for his father ahead of the trial starting in Hong Kong on 18 December. The Foreign Secretary raised Jimmy's case with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in their introductory call on 5 December, setting out his concern at the highly politicised nature of the prosecution.