Benedict Rogers on LBC: There is much more that the UK can do

Benedict Rogers, Chair and Co-founder of Hong Kong Watch, was interviewed on LBC Radio yesterday saying that China has broken its promises to Hong Kong under the Sino-British Joint Declaration which guarantees 50 years of high degree of autonomy and freedoms since the handover. With China imposing the National Security Law on Hong Kong which was approved at the National People’s Congress this week, it will totally decimate the way of life and autonomy in Hong Kong and destroy the joint declaration.

When asked about how this law will manifest itself in the way of life for the people in Hong Kong, Ben said that while the details of the law are yet to be announced, the law will likely deny freedoms totally like in China, press freedom will be under pressure and the right to protest peacefully will possibly be no longer possible. There are three categories of acts that will be criminalised under this law: subversion, succession and consorting with foreign political groups. Ben said in the future Hongkongers who speak to him as a foreign human rights activist may be committing an offence under this law.

On what the UK can do about the situation, Ben mentioned that the recent announcement by the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and the Home Secretary Priti Patel that the UK will extend rights to BNO passport holders is warmly welcomed. Yet there is much more that the UK should do. The UK should work with others in the international community to impose targeted Magnitsky sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials who are responsible for violating human rights in Hong Kong. The UK should also look at legal avenues for China’s breach of the international treaty. Lastly, the UK should lead and organise an international contact group with like-minded nations to look at other policy options and the mobilise international concerted efforts.

Listen to the full interview here:

(Photo: Studio Incendo)