Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps he is taking to fulfil the Government's obligations under the Sino-British Joint Declaration to monitor and speak out for basic freedoms and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

I refer my Hon. Friend to my answer of 1 February 2017 (PQ 61986).

The six-monthly reports submitted to the House by the Foreign Secretary, my Rt Hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson) reflect the Government's continuing interest in developments in Hong Kong and our commitment to the faithful implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Most recently, the Foreign Secretary discussed the importance of maintaining confidence in 'One Country, Two Systems' with Chinese State Councillor Yang Jiechi at the UK–China Strategic Dialogue in London on 20 December, which I also attended. I also discussed Hong Kong issues with the Chinese Ambassador on 9 February.