Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the basis for Home Office caseworkers describing Hong Kong as having “competent criminal courts” in Electronic Travel Authorisation refusal decisions, given the operation of the National Security Law; and how this is consistent with guidance that applicants should not be refused solely for convictions for offences not recognised in UK law, particularly where charges are acknowledged as potentially politically motivated.

Guidance to Home Office decision makers is clear that self-declared convictions for offences not recognised in the UK should not necessarily result in the refusal of an ETA application. All applications are considered on a case-by-case basis, with full consideration given to the nature of any offences declared, and other relevant factors.