Hong Kong: National Security

(asked on 19th October 2021) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of recent rulings by the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal that the National Security Law can be used to investigate violations of British colonial-era laws, such as sedition.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 2nd November 2021

The UK is deeply concerned about the situation in Hong Kong and the systematic erosion of rights and freedoms and the high degree of autonomy enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Declaration. The National Security Law is being used to systematically stifle rights and freedoms, not protect public security.

Hong Kong's prosperity and way of life relies on respect for fundamental freedoms, an independent judiciary and the rule of law.

The UK has already taken a number of actions in response to developments in Hong Kong. These include introducing a new bespoke immigration path for British Nationals (Overseas) (BNOs), suspending our extradition treaty with Hong Kong indefinitely and extending our arms embargo on mainland China to Hong Kong.

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