Pro-democracy Campaigners Arrests 2025-01-07

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What practical steps are being taken across the government to protect those in the UK with bounties on their heads and assess security? Will the Foreign Secretary raise this issue with his counterpart, Wang Yi, before a planned visit by the Chancellor to China?

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Will the Government raise the case of Carol Ng, a Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions general secretary imprisoned for four years, both to secure her release and family access?

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Will the Minister meet Carmen Lau, a former district councillor now based in the UK, to assure her of support? Can anyone bounty hunting in the UK be prosecuted under existing laws? Will sanctions be used against those responsible for targeting pro-democracy activists?

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At what point will consequences be applied for imprisoning pro-democracy campaigners and escalating transnational repression? Will senior Ministers stop visiting Beijing, and are British nationals with bounties being given specific security advice?

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The Minister should not take what I am about to say personally: no matter who is in government, I have been in opposition on this issue, and I continue to be so. I remind her that these seven pro-democracy campaigners, who now have a bounty on their heads, are just the latest act of a Chinese Communist party that does not care what countries like the UK say... America has sanctioned a large number of Chinese officials at the highest level in Hong Kong. No British Government have so far sanctioned a single person for any of the abuses that have taken place. Will she now say to the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister that we must sanction people for what they do to abuse British citizens and those we welcome here? Until we do that, we will not be taken seriously.

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What representations have been made to the Chinese Communist party’s ambassador here in London on the consequences of a third round of bounties targeting democracy activists, including British nationals and BNOs, here on British shores?

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No one should be surprised, as I have said before, when a communist totalitarian state behaves like a communist totalitarian state... Every time a senior British politician—be it the Prime Minister or the Chancellor—is going on a visit to the Chinese, something particularly egregious is done. That suggests to me that they are trying to rub our noses in it, and that they are not interested or concerned about anything we say on human rights abuses.

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I welcome the Minister’s statement and her robust words, and her outstanding disagreement when it comes to China’s approach to protecting UK people on our soil... What can we do to protect people here on UK soil further? What discussions has she had with her Home Office counterparts to ensure that UK police forces fully understand the seriousness of the threats to Hongkongers’ safety on UK soil?

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I agree with the Minister that the UK-China relationship is necessary, but she will know that it is complicated and often conflicted... I have two simple questions for the Minister. First, are the security services resourced enough to counter the increased threat? Secondly, are Hongkonger political dissidents safe on the streets of Britain?

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Chloe Cheung, a resident of Leeds, has been subject to a £100,000 bounty simply for telling the truth about Jimmy Lai. At 19 years old, she is the youngest person to be subject to Hong Kong’s national security law... What reassurances can the Minister give Chloe and other Hongkongers that they will be protected from transnational repression while they reside within our borders?

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How far are the Government prepared to go before the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland decides to push back in relation to this issue?... The Government must step up and protect our citizens.

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Could you approach your constituent to check that they have the required safety package and inform the police about this case?

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Does addressing concerns of Hongkongers in Britain send a strong message about supporting their freedoms?

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Will Beijing's actions against BNOs be scrutinised as part of the Government’s China audit?

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Will Ministers introduce updated measures showing how they see themselves defending democracy in the UK?

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How many Hong Kong officials have we sanctioned?

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Why should trade balance determine our response to human rights abuses?

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Why are the Government potentially facilitating China's reach by handing over Chagos islands?

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Is the national security law for Hong Kong in conflict with article 23 and a clear breach of the Sino-British joint declaration?

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Will you make it clear to China that arrest warrants are illegal and prosecute individuals engaging in such practices?

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What oversight is there by the Foreign Office of devolved institutions’ connections with China?

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Is it time to raise voices more loudly and cancel the Chancellor’s visit to Beijing?

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With the latest arrest warrants and transnational repression, what tangible steps will this Government take to get the message down to people on the ground that we will support Hong Kong residents?