Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications of the prosecution, imprisonment and trial of media owner Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong for global press freedom.

On 17 December, the Foreign Secretary called on the Hong Kong authorities to end their prosecution of Jimmy Lai and release him. We will continue to stand up for those who are targeted simply for exercising their human rights. The UK will always defend media freedom and freedom of expression globally. On 29 December, we and our Media Freedom Coalition partners signed a statement outlining our deep concern at the continued attacks on freedom of the press in Hong Kong, including the prolonged prosecution of Jimmy Lai. The UK has also been clear on its strong opposition to China's National Security Law in Hong Kong which has curtailed press freedom and we have urged the authorities to repeal it.