Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to his counterpart in Hong Kong on the conduct of the Hong Kong police force during recent demonstrations in that country.
I raised the response of the Hong Kong authorities to recent protests when I spoke to Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam on 9 August. Whilst there is no excuse for violence, it is vital that the response of the authorities is proportionate. The Hong Kong SAR Government should also establish a robust, independent investigation into events. We note that the Independent Police Complaints Council are carrying out an inquiry and we look forward to further details on its scope. Whatever the format of the inquiry, it is crucial that it is credible, transparent, can rebuild trust and help to resolve the current tensions. Recent developments underline the pressing need for a constructive dialogue to address the legitimate concerns of the people of Hong Kong.