Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to (1) the government of China, and (2) the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, about Jimmy Lai, including (a) securing consular access, (b) ensuring his right to a defence counsel of his choice, (c) ensuring he receives a fair trial, and (c) securing his release on bail while awaiting trial.

We are actively monitoring the targeting of pro-democracy figures, journalists and publishers in Hong Kong, and are following these cases, including Mr Lai's carefully.

Accredited diplomats at our Consulate-General in Hong Kong will continue to attend Mr Lai's court proceedings. We have requested consular access to Mr Lai. Mr Lai was sentenced to 5 years and 9 months for a charge of fraud on 10 December and is not currently eligible for bail.

Foreign Lawyers are permitted to practice in Hong Kong, provided they complete the relevant registration and entrance requirements. We are watching closely how the Chief Executive and Hong Kong authorities act to implement the 30 December interpretation of the National Security Law. As we have said, the National Security Law is being used to curtail freedoms, punish dissent and shrink the space for opposition, and we consider it to represent a clear and serious breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.