Hong Kong: Politics and Government

(asked on 18th July 2018) - View Source

Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of (1) the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and (2) and the People’s Republic of China, about (a) Hong Kong’s basic freedoms, including freedom of expression, and (b) its autonomy.


Answered by
 Portrait
Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 31st July 2018

The Government regularly discusses a range of issues with the Governments of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the People’s Republic of China, including Hong Kong’s rights and freedoms, the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and the importance of ‘One Country, Two Systems’.

The Prime Minister discussed Hong Kong with both Premier Li and President Xi during her visit to China earlier this year. She underlined the UK’s ongoing commitment to the successful implementation of ‘One Country, Two Systems’, and stressed that rights and freedoms in Hong Kong should be fully respected.

The Government issued the following statement on 17 July:

“We note with concern the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government plans to prohibit the continued operation of the Hong Kong National Party. The rights to stand for election, of free speech and of freedom of association are enshrined in the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and the Hong Kong Bill of Rights.

The UK does not support Hong Kong independence, but Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, and its rights and freedoms, are central to its way of life, and it is important they are fully respected.”

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