Apr. 24 2024
Source Page: UK Minister for Indo-Pacific’s key meetings in mainland China and Hong Kong SAR, April 2024Found: UK Minister for Indo-Pacific’s key meetings in mainland China and Hong Kong SAR, April 2024
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will take steps to impose sanctions on Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee for his role in the development of the proposed Article 23 legislation in Hong Kong; and whether they will make representations to HSBC and Standard Chartered to allow Hong Kongers to access to their Mandatory Provident Fund.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is aware that individuals who have chosen to take up the British Nationals (Overseas) Visa (BN(O)) route are having difficulties in accessing their pensions held in the Hong Kong Mandatory Provident Funds (MPF). Financial institutions operating in Hong Kong do so within a strict legal and regulatory framework. British officials in Hong Kong have raised this directly with the Hong Kong SAR Government and the Hong Kong MPF Schemes Authority and will continue to do so. We have also raised the issue with trustee HSBC directly. We will continue to urge the Hong Kong authorities and all relevant bodies to facilitate early drawdown of funds as is the case for other Hong Kong residents who move overseas permanently. We continue to keep sanctions designations under review. It would not be appropriate to speculate about future sanctions measures as to do so could reduce their impact.
Dec. 14 2023
Source Page: Hong Kong National Security Law arrest warrants: Foreign Secretary’s statementFound: Hong Kong National Security Law arrest warrants: Foreign Secretary’s statement
Asked by: Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what representations the Minister for Indo-Pacific made during her recent meetings with Hong Kong officials regarding (1) Jimmy Lai’s trial, (2) political prisoners, and (3) Article 23 of the National Security Law; and what response she received to these representations.
Answered by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 24 April, the Minister for the Indo-Pacific met with Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui during her six-day visit to China and Hong Kong. The Minister raised the deterioration of rights and freedom in the city precipitated by the 2020 National Security Law, and the recent passage of legislation under Article 23. Minister Trevelyan also raised the case of Jimmy Lai during the meeting. We will continue to raise areas of disagreement or concern in Hong Kong with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, whether Ministers in his Department have plans to meet with Hong Kong activists (a) Nathan Law, (b) Finn Lau and (c) Christopher Mung.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
We will not tolerate any attempt by any foreign power to intimidate, harass or harm individuals or communities in the UK. Officials in Hong Kong, Beijing and London have raised the issuing of arrest warrants and bounties for these individuals with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities. As the Foreign Secretary said on 14 December, the Hong Kong Police are deliberately targeting individuals for exercising their right to freedom of expression. We have called for the repeal of the National Security Law and continue to make clear our strong objections, including to its extraterritorial reach. That extends to the decisions by the Hong Kong Police to issue arrest warrants and bounties for activists. We call on Beijing to repeal the National Security Law and end its persecution of political activists.
Dec. 06 2023
Source Page: World Trade Organization: Hong Kong, China’s Trade Policy Review, December 2023: UK StatementFound: World Trade Organization: Hong Kong, China’s Trade Policy Review, December 2023: UK Statement
We want the UK Government to grant British Citizenship to the Hong Kong people holding the valid British National (Overseas) passports immediately and unconditionally, instead of having these people applying for BNO visa scheme and then waiting for 5+1 years to apply for British Citizenship.
Found: been found to breach the Sino-British Joint Declaration. 2/ Concerns that Chinese and Hong
Asked by: Tom Randall (Conservative - Gedling)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether the Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific made representations to officials in Hong Kong on (a) political prisoners, (b) the trial of Jimmy Lai and alleged use of evidence obtained under torture from Andy Li and (c) Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 during her visit to Hong Kong in April 2024.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 24 April, I met with Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui during my six-day visit to China and Hong Kong. I raised the deterioration of rights and freedom in the city precipitated by the 2020 National Security Law, and the recent passage of legislation under Article 23. I also raised the case of Jimmy Lai during the meeting. We will continue to raise areas of disagreement or concern in Hong Kong with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities.
Asked by: Holly Lynch (Labour - Halifax)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether the Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific raised human rights concerns relating to the 2024 Safeguarding National Security Bill and the 2020 National Security Law while meeting the (a) Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and (b) Treasury Christopher Hui in Hong Kong.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
On 24 April I met with Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui during my six-day visit to China and Hong Kong. I raised concerns over the deterioration of rights and freedoms in the city precipitated by the 2020 National Security Law and the recent passage of legislation under Article 23. We will continue to raise areas of disagreement or concern, including human rights in Hong Kong with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities.
Asked by: Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi (Labour - Slough)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Minister of State, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, what steps he plans to take to support UK (a) nationals and (b) businesses in Hong Kong, in the context of the external interference offence included in the Article 23 legislation passed in Hong Kong on 19 March 2024.
Answered by Anne-Marie Trevelyan - Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
Hong Kong is required to ensure national security legislation complies with international standards and upholds rights and freedoms, as set out in the Joint Declaration, the Basic Law, and international law. Hong Kong's reputation as an international city was founded on respect for the rule of law, the independence of its institutions, its high degree of autonomy, and protection of the rights and freedoms afforded to all people living and working there. The Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, rushed through the legislative process despite its significance, will have far-reaching implications for all of these areas. That is why the Foreign Secretary on 19 March urged the Hong Kong authorities to respect rights and freedoms and act in accordance with its international commitments and legal obligations. We continue to analyse the extent of the impact this will have on British nationals and businesses in Hong Kong, and have updated our Travel Advice and Overseas Business Risk accordingly.