Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to assess and prevent transnational repression of Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa holders and their families in the United Kingdom, particularly through the misuse of financial, tax, immigration or identity data by foreign governments.

The National Security Act 2023 has provided a comprehensive suite of powers to counter the threat of Transnational repression (TNR). The Government, working alongside operational partners, have mature mechanisms in place to prevent, assess and respond to potential threats in the UK. We will continue to take action as necessary to tackle those threats.

The safety and security of Hong Kongers in the UK is of the upmost importance, and the UK will always stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong. Any foreign state-directed crime against an individual in the UK will not be tolerated. TNR can take on many forms, but acts of TNR tend to be targeted and specific against individuals who a foreign state perceives as a threat or otherwise seeks to control. This often includes vocal critics, dissidents, or activists or those connected to that foreign state.