Hong Kong: Political Prisoners
Debate between Earl of Courtown and Lord Thomas of Gresford
The Earl of Courtown (Con)
The national security law poses real questions for the rule of law in Hong Kong and the protection of fundamental rights and freedoms promised by China in the joint declaration. Our assessment of Hong Kong’s judicial independence is increasingly finely balanced. It is, therefore, right that it is kept under review.
Lord Thomas of Gresford (LD)
My Lords, I know that there have been recent discussions between the Lord Chancellor, the Foreign Secretary and British judges who continue to serve on the Court of Final Appeal. That fine court declared recently that these new laws under the national security law trump rights guaranteed by the Basic Law. What were those talks about and what was their result?
The Earl of Courtown (Con)
My Lords, I was not privy to those conversations, but the noble Lord is quite right about the situation in Hong Kong relating to breaches of the joint declaration that have continued over time.
Rob Lawrie
Debate between Earl of Courtown and Lord Thomas of Gresford
The Earl of Courtown
My Lords, I will pass on that question to the Minister whose responsibility that is, if the noble Lord finds that acceptable.
Lord Thomas of Gresford (LD)
My Lords, is the Minister aware that at the moment an exhibition in Prague runs the length of Wenceslas Square about the children who were brought to this country in 1938 by Sir Nicholas Winton in that magnificent humanitarian gesture of his? No other country would take those children. Is it not time that this Government adopted a similar principle towards the children who are clamouring for help in Europe at the moment?
The Earl of Courtown
The noble Lord reminds the House of the great work that was done at that period. The whole point is to try to stop these children making the journey in the first place. This is what we are working at through the departmental work and, particularly, with what has been happening in Valletta recently, where we have been concentrating on the Valletta action plan, which is to get people work and sustainable lives in their own countries.