Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 17 November 2014 to Question 213991, what process was followed for determining whether arms transfer licences should be reviewed as a consequence of the use of tear gas canisters during the protests in Hong Kong on 28 September 2014.

Government policy states that during sudden changes in conditions in an export destination, in particular where there are increased concerns about human rights, all relevant extant export licences are subject to review. After carefully reviewing one current licence against the Consolidated Criteria, the Government decided that it does not contravene the Consolidated Criteria. Therefore, this licence remains open. The Government continues to monitor the situation in Hong Kong very closely.