Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Deputy Foreign Secretary, whether the Minister of State for the Indo-Pacific made representations to officials in Hong Kong on (a) political prisoners, (b) the trial of Jimmy Lai and alleged use of evidence obtained under torture from Andy Li and (c) Hong Kong Basic Law Article 23 during her visit to Hong Kong in April 2024.

On 24 April, I met with Hong Kong Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury, Christopher Hui during my six-day visit to China and Hong Kong. I raised the deterioration of rights and freedom in the city precipitated by the 2020 National Security Law, and the recent passage of legislation under Article 23. I also raised the case of Jimmy Lai during the meeting. We will continue to raise areas of disagreement or concern in Hong Kong with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities.