Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people from Hong Kong in the UK who hold British National (Overseas) status following the alleged assault on Bob Chan at the Chinese consulate in Manchester in October 2022.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The UK has taken firm action following restrictions on the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong.
We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and take protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously. Home Office officials work closely with other departments including the FCDO and DLUHC in ensuring that the UK is a safe and welcoming place for both those who hold BN(O) status and other Hongkongers.
Attempts by foreign Governments to coerce, intimidate, harass or harm their critics overseas, undermining democracy and the rule of law, are unacceptable.
The Home Office is driving forward work to protect the democratic integrity of the UK, including from threats of foreign interference, through the Defending Democracy Taskforce.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people from Hong Kong in the UK who hold British National (Overseas) status following the reports of alleged secret police stations in the UK.
Answered by Tom Tugendhat - Minister of State (Home Office) (Security)
The UK has taken firm action following restrictions on the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong.
We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and take protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously. Home Office officials work closely with other departments including the FCDO and DLUHC in ensuring that the UK is a safe and welcoming place for both those who hold BN(O) status and other Hongkongers.
Attempts by foreign Governments to coerce, intimidate, harass or harm their critics overseas, undermining democracy and the rule of law, are unacceptable.
I made a statement on the issue of transnational repression to the House on 1 November. As I said to the House, reports of undeclared ‘police stations’ in the UK are of course very concerning and are taken extremely seriously. Any foreign country operating on UK soil must abide by UK law. This Government is committed to tackling this challenge wherever it originates. An internal review into transnational repression is underway and the House will be updated on progress in due course.
More broadly, I am driving forward work to protect the democratic integrity of the UK, including from threats of foreign interference, through the Defending Democracy Taskforce.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure the safety and wellbeing of people from Hong Kong living in Scotland who hold British National (Overseas) status.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The UK has taken firm action following restrictions on the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. The UK will continue to stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong, as we have demonstrated by introducing the bespoke immigration route for British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status holders and their eligible family members. By the end of 2021 there were over 100,000 applications for the route.
We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously. As you would expect, Home Office officials work closely with the FCDO and DLUHC, as well as other government departments, to ensure that the UK is a safe and welcoming place for both those who hold BN(O) status and other Hongkongers.
Attempts by foreign Governments to coerce, intimidate, harass or harm their critics overseas, undermining democracy and the rule of law, are unacceptable. Anyone who is concerned for their safety should contact the police.
Furthermore, the Security Minister made a statement on the issue of transnational repression to the House on 1 November. I said this Government is committed to tackling this challenge wherever it originates and announced an internal review into transnational repression. This work is underway and the House will be updated on progress in due course.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will make an assessment of the safety of people in the UK who hold British National (Overseas) status.
Answered by Robert Jenrick
The UK has taken firm action following restrictions on the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong. The UK will continue to stand up for the rights of the people of Hong Kong, as we have demonstrated by introducing the bespoke immigration route for British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status holders and their eligible family members. By the end of 2021 there were over 100,000 applications for the route.
We continually assess potential threats in the UK, and take the protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously. As you would expect, Home Office officials work closely with the FCDO and DLUHC, as well as other government departments, to ensure that the UK is a safe and welcoming place for both those who hold BN(O) status and other Hongkongers.
Attempts by foreign Governments to coerce, intimidate, harass or harm their critics overseas, undermining democracy and the rule of law, are unacceptable. Anyone who is concerned for their safety should contact the police.
Furthermore, the Security Minister made a statement on the issue of transnational repression to the House on 1 November. I said this Government is committed to tackling this challenge wherever it originates and announced an internal review into transnational repression. This work is underway and the House will be updated on progress in due course.
Asked by: Liam Fox (Conservative - North Somerset)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans she has to implement the recommendations of the Independent Chief Inspector's report on the Rights of European Citizens and their Spouses to Come to the UK, published on 19 June 2014, on sham marriages among non-EEA nationals in order to gain UK residency.
Answered by Karen Bradley
The Chief Inspector’s report contained 10 recommendations; six were accepted, two were accepted in part and the remaining two were not accepted. A detailed response from the Home Office was also published on 19 June 2014 on the Chief Inspector’s website and on gov.uk.
We have already implemented or started implementation of the eight recommendations accepted or accepted in part.