Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if his Department will make an assessment of the impact of his planned meeting with the Finance Minister of Hong Kong due to take place in April 2023 on the Government's policy that the People's Republic of China is in ongoing non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration; and what steps he plans to take to advance his Department's policy objectives on Hong Kong and its relationship with China during that meeting.

No such meeting is planned. We have made clear our assessment of China's non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration and our strong opposition to the National Security Law. The Foreign Secretary set out those issues with State Councillor Wang Yi in February. Through the Integrated Review Refresh, the Prime Minister has set the direction across government for a consistent, coherent, and robust approach to China, rooted in our national interest and values. That extends to our approach on Hong Kong.