Jimmy Lai Conviction

Lord Oates Excerpts

Wednesday 17th December 2025 Lords Chamber

[The Earl of Courtown (Con)]

My Lords, His Majesty’s Opposition echo calls for the immediate release of Jimmy Lai. Persecuted under the national security law, which is a breach of the 1984 Sino-British joint declaration, Lai’s verdict was made by politically appointed judges, and the trial was conducted without a jury.

Jimmy Lai’s courage and resilience is an inspiration. Born during the Chinese civil war, his mother was sent to a labour camp. At the age of 12, he arrived in Hong Kong and worked his way up to become one of Hong Kong’s success stories. As a British citizen, he could have come to the UK when the national security law came into force, but he chose to stay in Hong Kong out of solidarity with its people and commitment to his work. At the age of 78, he has spent the past five years in prison, mostly in solitary confinement.

As has been highlighted, requests for consular access have been repeatedly refused, as well as for Lai to have full access to independent medical professionals amid concerns for his health. Moreover, he has been refused access to the sacraments of the Catholic faith. The Chinese Communist Party’s treatment of him, and of Hong Kong, are further evidence that the Chinese Government cannot be trusted. Nor are these matters simply internal affairs for China. Lai is a British citizen. The national security law goes against the Sino-British joint declaration, which China signed, and which obliges the UK to guarantee rights and freedoms in Hong Kong. On the international world stage, the Chinese Government have proven themselves not to keep their word.

We know that the Chinese Communist Party cannot be trusted, and yet plans are progressing for a new super-embassy—the largest embassy in Europe and its largest diplomatic outpost globally. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy has called for the planning application to be approved,

“to avoid further undermining the mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides”.

This is outrageous, when it is China that has breached the joint declaration, and that, even on British soil, continues to intimidate Hong Kongers. If the planning application for the new super-embassy is approved, at the heart of our capital city, what signal would that give? Can the Minister explain why the Government will not, at the very least, include China in the enhanced tier of the foreign influence registration scheme?

Numerous civil society organisations, including Hong Kong Watch, have written a joint letter to the Prime Minister, asking him to do more in the case of Jimmy Lai and noting that Australia, Canada and Ireland have been able to secure the release of their citizens imprisoned in China. Yesterday, the President of the United States called directly on Xi Jinping to consider his release. Can the Minister clarify whether our own Prime Minister will follow suit and demand his release publicly? In addition, if the Prime Minister refuses to cancel his visit to China in January, will he raise the matter and call for Jimmy Lai’s release in-person with President Xi?

We all recognise the complexities and competing considerations involved in the UK’s relationship with China, but we cannot let these drown out or dilute the Government’s duty to its citizens or to national security. I urge the Government to do more, inspired by Jimmy Lai’s own courage, to stand up to the CCP’s narrative and for our own principles and citizens.

[Lord Oates (LD)]

My Lords, I associate the Liberal Democrats with the Government’s strong condemnation of Jimmy Lai’s political conviction and of the Chinese Government for engineering it. I join the noble Earl in saluting the courage of Jimmy Lai, who, instead of choosing the easy life available to him, decided at great personal cost to stand up for democracy and freedom.

I have had the privilege of knowing some of those who have made similar sacrifices in other parts of the world. Every time I have met them, I have been humbled by the price they have been prepared to pay, knowing full well in advance of the potential consequences of their actions. That extraordinary and humbling courage requires a commensurate response from our Government in defence of not only an international hero of democracy but a British citizen.

Jimmy Lai is not alone. Many Hong Kongers continue to advocate for democracy despite the consequences, while the CCP continues to seek to undermine Hong Kong’s agreed status. Hong Kongers in the UK are subject to threats and intimidation from the Chinese state, including Carmen Lau, who just last week was subjected to a renewed campaign of intimidation against her.

Can the Minister tell us what assurance the Government can provide to Hong Kongers in the UK that they will be better protected from the outrageous actions of the CCP in our country? Will the Government sanction the CCP officials responsible for extraterritorial intimidation? Will the FCDO update its submission to the Housing Secretary about the risks of the super-embassy in the light of the actions of the Chinese state? Finally, what action will the Government take to signal, beyond any doubt, that the treatment of Jimmy Lai is wholly unacceptable and that they will continue to seek his release, vocally and with concrete action?

[The Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Baroness Chapman of Darlington) (Lab)]

I thank both noble Lords for what they have said, particularly about Jimmy Lai himself—he truly is a remarkable person. I have not had the privilege of meeting him, but I know that many in this House have done so and consider him a very dear friend. What he has done throughout his life is truly extraordinary. The fact that, at 78 years of age, he finds himself in this terrible situation, for doing nothing other than standing up for democracy, is shocking. The Government are clear that he should be released immediately because his detention is politically motivated and there is no just reason to detain him in prison for a single minute longer.

The Government summoned the Chinese ambassador when the verdict was given. We have demanded that Jimmy Lai is released immediately. We are continuing to demand consular access, which has not been provided to date. We had senior officials attend the trial in order to make the point that the UK Government are watching this very closely. We raise this with partners, including the United States. We have raised this at every level with the Chinese as well.

On the issue of the embassy, clearly, the decision to allow China to use the former Royal Mint was made under the previous Government. Now, it is subject to decisions to be made by MHCLG, and that process is ongoing. The Prime Minister has raised this personally, and he will continue to do so.

In addition to those questions, the noble Lord, Lord Oates, asked about transnational repression, and that is clearly of deep concern to the Government. We are committed to supporting all members of the Hong Kong community who have used their right to relocate here to the UK. We are clear that any attempts by any foreign Governments, and that includes China, to coerce, intimidate or harm their critics here are completely unacceptable. Freedom of speech and other fundamental rights of all people in the UK are protected under our domestic laws.