China: Human Rights and Sanctions

Brendan O'Hara Excerpts
Monday 28th October 2024

(3 weeks, 3 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Lammy Portrait Mr Lammy
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I told Wang Yi, the Foreign Minister, that it was not just unacceptable but counterproductive and that it needed to end. Those were my exact words.

Brendan O'Hara Portrait Brendan O'Hara (Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber) (SNP)
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Of course we were all pleased to hear both the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister describe the release of Jimmy Lai as a priority. In the Foreign Secretary’s meeting with his Chinese counterpart, what priority was given to the release of Jimmy Lai, and given its priority status when does the Foreign Secretary expect us to see measurable progress being made on Jimmy Lai’s release, and what will that progress look like?

David Lammy Portrait Mr Lammy
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“Progress” is Jimmy Lai’s release; that is the position of the UK Government. I cannot tell the hon. Gentleman when that will be, because we are not holding him; the Chinese are holding him. We continue to say that he should be released—that is our position.