Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Hong Kong: National Security Law

Tuesday 20 July 2021 · 4 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The national security law in Hong Kong is stunting freedoms and undermining the joint declaration.
  • The UK has announced a 43 million support package for holders of British national overseas status.
  • The Foreign Secretary stated that the participation of the UK national team in the Olympics is a matter for the British Olympic Association, independent of government.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Aaron Bell
Context

The question arises from concerns over the national security law in Hong Kong, its deviation from stated purposes and its effects on freedoms there.

Question

What recent assessment has been made of the effect of the National Security Law on the people of Hong Kong?

Answer from Dominic Raab

The national security law in Hong Kong is not being used for its original avowed purpose; instead, it is stunting freedoms and undermining the joint declaration.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a detailed assessment or statistics on the impact.

How: Stunted Freedoms, Undermining

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Q2 Aaron Bell
Immigration Community Security
Context

Concerns over ensuring the successful integration of Hong Kong residents with British National (Overseas) status into UK communities.

Question

I welcome the continuing success of the new visa relief for holders of British national overseas status; it reflects the UK's historic and moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong in the face of the new national security law. Will my right hon. Friend confirm what steps he is taking to ensure that those Hongkongers will be welcomed to Britain and able to integrate into our local communities?

Answer from Dominic Raab

I think that this is the most big-hearted offer that the UK has made since the Indian Ugandans fled Idi Amin. My hon. Friend is right that it is not just about offering safe haven; the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has announced a £43 million dedicated support package to ensure that BNOs can integrate and thrive in our country.

Answered
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Q3 Lisa Nandy Lab Wigan
Foreign Affairs
Context

Concern over the Foreign Secretary's approach to attending a sports event amid human rights violations in Xinjiang.

Question

We have watched as the situation has deteriorated in Hong Kong and as genocide is committed in Xinjiang. The Foreign Secretary has issued statements and introduced sanctions while clinging to the absurd prospect of boarding a plane to Beijing next year to participate in a public relations coup for the Chinese Government. He is asking the royal family and senior politicians to stand by while journalists are rounded up, pro-democracy protesters are arrested and 1 million Uyghurs are incarcerated in detention camps. In October, before he was overruled by the Chancellor and the Prime Minister, he said that there comes a point where sport and politics cannot be separated. When is that point?

Answer from Dominic Raab

The hon. Lady knows that the participation of any national team in the Olympics is a matter for the British Olympic Association, which is required, as a matter of law under the International Olympic Committee regulations, to take those decisions independently. We have led the international response on Xinjiang, and also on Hong Kong. Of course, as we have said, we will consider the level of Government representation at the winter Olympics in due course.

Not addressed: Did not address the specific timing of when sport and politics should be separated.

How: British Olympic Association Independence, Ioc Regulations

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Q4 Lisa Nandy Lab Wigan
Foreign Affairs
Context

Concern over inconsistency between the Foreign Secretary's stance on sanctions and the Chancellor's support for Chinese financial services.

Question

While the Foreign Secretary continues to duck the question, the Chinese Government have raised the stakes. Yesterday, he admitted that China was responsible for the Microsoft Exchange hack, which saw businesses' data stolen and hackers demanding millions of pounds in ransom. He said that the Chinese Government can expect to be held to account. He might want to have a word with the Treasury, because just two weeks ago, at Mansion House, the Chancellor said that it was time to realise the potential of a fast-growing financial services market with total assets worth £40 trillion. While the Foreign Secretary is imposing sanctions, the Chancellor is cashing cheques. How does the Foreign Secretary expect to be taken seriously in Beijing if he is not even taken seriously around his own Cabinet table?

Answer from Dominic Raab

I thank the hon. Lady, but she is wrong on two counts. It was yesterday that the UK, along with our EU, NATO and US allies and Canada, Australia and New Zealand, publicly attributed the Microsoft Exchange server attacks to the Chinese; it was not then that they took place. She is also wrong in her characterisation of the Mansion House speech. Of course, we have made it clear right across Government that we will hold the Chinese Government to account on human rights, but also on cyber-attacks or other nefarious activities, while also seeking a constructive relationship.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address inconsistency between sanctions and economic ties.

How: Allies' Agreement, Mansion House Speech Characterization

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