Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to support the (a) independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong and (b) British judges who serve within that judicial system.

The UK Government is monitoring developments closely and remain committed to supporting the principles of the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law in Hong Kong in accordance with the obligations undertaken by the UK and China in the Joint Declaration.

Each country should uphold its own rule of law and we expect British judges who get invited to sit in Hong Kong’s courts to apply law in accordance with legislation and guidance in place in that country without interference from the Executive.