Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help Jimmy Lai's access to legal counsel.

I [Minister for Indo-Pacific] met representatives of Mr Lai's international legal team on 10 January and 24 April. Officials continue to provide support. Diplomats at our Consulate-General in Hong Kong will continue to attend Mr Lai's court proceedings. We are also using our channels with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to raise Mr Lai's situation - the Foreign Secretary last did so with Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng on 5 May.