Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they consider that the reaction of consular officials in Beijing to the detention of Alexandra Wilson by Chinese authorities was adequate.

Consular staff offered Ms Wilson and her family consular assistance on a regular basis in line with our Consular charter: Support for British Nationals Abroad.

Consular staff at our Embassy in Beijing were informed on 31 October by Ms Wilson's friends of her arrest. Consular staff called the Chinese police and Dou Ge Zhuang Detention Centre on the 31 October and 1 November but the Chinese authorities would not provide any information on the detention.
After many phone calls consular officers were permitted a 30 minute visit on Monday 3 November. At this time it was confirmed that Ms Wilson was being held for working on an incorrect visa. In line with Chinese law the Chinese police (PSB) stated that it was likely that Ms Wilson would be held for an undetermined period of time and then deported. On 5 November consular staff phoned the PSB who stated that there was no clear release date as yet. Consular officers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London were in daily contact with Ms Wilson’s mother.
On 6 November a Note Verbale was sent to the Chinese authorities expressing concerns over Ms Wilson's health issues and on 7 November our political team wrote to the Chinese Embassy in London highlighting Miss Wilson’s case.
Follow up phone calls were made on 10, 13, 14 and 17 November from consular officers to the PSB regarding a release date. On the 17 November the PSB confirmed that Ms Wilson would be deported on 19 November.
Consular officers in London followed up on 23 November to check with Ms Wilson that she arrived safely back in the UK.