The Foreign Secretary must use his visit to Beijing to offer a robust defence of Sino-British Joint Declaration

Hong Kong. Photo by Manson Yim on Unsplash

Source: Hong Kong Watch

On Wednesday, 30 August, Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly MP, will become the first UK Minister to visit Beijing for a bilateral diplomatic visit in five years.

It is the first visit by a UK Foreign Secretary to China since the introduction of the draconian National Security Law in Hong Kong and the subsequent crackdown on human rights, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression, freedom of the press, and the overhaul of democratic elections in the city.

In a statement issued by the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office, it noted that the Foreign Secretary will "challenge China on the erosion of autonomy, rights, and freedoms in Hong Kong under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law."

The Foreign Secretary's visit comes nearly two months after the Hong Kong authorities issued arrest warrants and bounties for eight pro-democracy activists, including three who are resident in the UK, in an escalation of the human rights crackdown in the city.

Commenting on the Foreign Secretary's visit, Benedict Rogers, Hong Kong Watch's Chief Executive said: "Given that this will be the first visit from a UK minister since the People's Republic of China imposed the draconian National Security Law on Hong Kong, the mass arrest of pro-democracy lawmakers, activists, and journalists, and the dismantling of the city's democracy, we expect the Foreign Secretary to offer a robust defence of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

"We urge the Foreign Secretary to make it clear that any stabilisation of relations between the UK and the People's Republic of China will be dependent on its recommitment to the Joint Declaration and the upholding of respect for the rights, freedoms, and autonomy of the people of Hong Kong.

"This must include the release of all political prisoners in Hong Kong, in particular the former owner of Apple Daily Jimmy Lai, who is a British citizen and other prisoners whose families possess British passports or British National Overseas passports.

After all, the word of Chinese officials when it comes to tackling climate change, ending the war in Ukraine, maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait, or dealing with future pandemics, means little if it is so openly, frequently, and flagrantly willing to breach its international commitments to the UK, the United Nations, and the people of Hong Kong."

After a pre-trial review of Jimmy Lai's case, a panel of three High Court judges decided to delay it until December 18. The trial was expected to start in December 2022 and had already been delayed until September 2023. A Catholic, Mr Lai is 75 years old. He has been in prison since December last year.

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Hang Kong Watch: www.hongkongwatch.org/