Hong Kong diaspora groups call on UK government to take firm stance on China
Today, Hong Kong Watch and 24 other diaspora groups, representing Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Hong Kongers, issued a joint letter to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer calling on the UK government to take a firmer stance on national security issues related to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong.
The letter raises concerns that the UK government’s current strategy on the PRC has unduly prioritised a deepened economic relationship with the PRC over protecting national security. It highlights the ongoing controversy over the collapse of the espionage case, the proposed PRC embassy development in east London, and the non-inclusion of the PRC in the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) as examples of a perceived confusion over the government’s China strategy, and urges the government to take a stronger stance against security threats posed by the PRC.
The letter comes as senior government ministers, including the Attorney General, the Cabinet Secretary, the Deputy National Security Advisor and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, were called to testify in front of the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy, following the collapse of the trial of Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry on espionage charges. The collapse of the case has proved a major scandal for the government, which has been forced to deny that it deliberately collapsed the prosecution. However, questions continue to be raised about the government’s involvement in the case.
In particular, the letter calls on the government to take the following measures: place the PRC in the enhanced tier of FIRS, and reject the planning application for the proposed PRC embassy development in Tower Hamlets.
You can read the letter in full here.
Finn Lau, bountied Hong Kong activist and advisor to Hong Kong Watch, said:
“The confusion surrounding this case has demonstrated the limits of the government’s current strategy on China. National security threats demand a strong response, not collapsed trials and contradictory statements. I call on the UK government to take these reasonable steps to strengthen our national security against foreign influence.”
Lord Alton of Liverpool, Patron of Hong Kong Watch and Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, said:
“While chairing the Joint Committee on Human Rights’ inquiry into transnational repression earlier this year – although speaking now in a personal capacity – I heard firsthand from young Hong Konger activists about the risk to their physical safety and security posed by the People’s Republic of China. This included bounties being paid for their abduction. We cannot afford to ignore the national security risks faced by diaspora groups within the UK, and it would be disreputable and irresponsible to turn a blind eye to these risks in the name of improving economic relations.”
Carmen Lau, bountied Hong Kong activist, said:
“We remain profoundly concerned that the Hong Kong community’s trust in this government has been further eroded by the collapse of the recent spy prosecution and a series of troubling decisions – including renewed attempts to warm relations with Beijing. When you are the subject of an international arrest warrant and a bounty – a clear act of hostile state behaviour on UK soil – statements of commitment are simply not enough to restore confidence.
We are calling for a clear, principled reset in the UK’s approach to the PRC – one that acknowledges the reality of interference and transnational repression, and takes concrete steps to protect democracy. Placing the PRC in the enhanced tier of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme and rejecting the Chinese mega-embassy proposal are the minimum actions needed to rebuild the Hong Kong community’s trust in this government’s commitment to our safety.”
Thomas Benson, Senior Research and Policy Advisor at Hong Kong Watch, said:
“There are still many apparent obfuscations and contradictions at the heart of this case, which is continuing to raise a question mark over the UK government’s policy on China. The collapse of this case has apparently hinged on whether the PRC could be described as a ‘threat’. For diaspora communities faced with transnational repression, the appropriateness of this word can be in little doubt. That is why we are calling on the UK government to place the PRC in the enhanced tier of FIRS and reject the embassy proposal.”
香港監察聯同離散團體去信英首相 呼籲政府將中國納入「外國影響力登記計劃」進階級別並拒批超級大使館計劃
今天，香港監察聯同24個代表代表藏人、維吾爾人和香港人的離散團體去信英國首相施紀賢（Keir Starmer），呼籲英國政府在有關中國和香港的國家安全問題上，採取更強硬立場。
聯署信就英國政府的現行對中策略提出顧慮，指其將加深與中國的經濟關係，過分地置於保障國家安全之上。信中援引中國間諜案撤控、中國擬在倫敦東部興建超級大使館，以及中國未被納入「外國影響力登記計劃」（FIRS）進階級別的持續爭議，說明公眾對政府的對中策略困惑不解，並促請政府對中國構成的安全威脅採取更強硬立場。
聯署信基於兩名英籍男子Christopher Cash和Christopher Berry被控涉嫌為中國從事間諜活動，案件早前未審先撤，檢察總長、內閣秘書長、副國家安全顧問和蘭加士打公爵領地事務大臣等政府高官其後被傳召到國家安全策略聯合委員會作證。案件撤控對英國政府來說是重大醜聞，政府一方否認介入撤銷起訴一事。不過，對於政府有否參與本案的疑問持續不斷。
信中特別呼籲英國政府採取以下措施：將中國納入「外國影響力登記計劃」的進階級別，並拒絕批准中國在塔村區興建超級大使館的規劃申請。
請在此處閱覽聯署信全文。
被懸紅通緝香港社運人士、香港監察顧問劉祖廸（Finn Lau）表示：
「這宗案件引起的疑惑暴露了政府現行對中策略的限制。國家安全威脅需要強而有力的回應，而不是最終告吹的審訊和自相矛盾的聲明。我呼籲英國政府採取相關合理措施，加強國家安全，抵禦外國影響力。」
香港監察贊助人、英國國會人權聯合委員會主席奧爾頓勳爵（Lord Alton of Liverpool）表示：
「我今年稍早主持人權聯合委員會的跨國鎮壓調查時──雖然現在是以個人身分發言，我親耳聽到香港年輕社運人士講述中國對他們人身安全構成的威脅，當中包括懸紅通緝他們。我們擔當不起忽視英國國內流散群體面對的國家安全風險，以改善經濟關係為名而對這些風險視而不見，是有失信譽且不負責任的行為。」
被懸紅通緝香港社運人士劉珈汶（Carmen Lau）表示：
「最近間諜案撤控加上一連串令人不安的決定，包括重新嘗試改善與北京的關係，進一步削弱港人社群對本屆政府的信任，我們仍然對此深感憂慮。當你成為國際懸紅通緝令的目標時，而這顯然是英國境內發生的敵對國家行為，發表承諾聲明根本不足以恢復信任。
我們呼籲英國清晰、有原則地調整對中政策，承認中國干預和跨國鎮壓的事實，並採取具體措施保護民主。將中國列入『外國影響力登記計劃』的進階級別，並拒絕批准中國超級大使館計劃，是重建港人社群對本屆政府承諾保障我們安全的信任，需要採取的最低限度行動。」
香港監察資深研究及政策顧問湯柏森（Thomas Benson）表示：
「這宗案件的核心仍然存在很多明顯的混淆和矛盾之處，繼續令人質疑英國政府的對中政策。據稱案件告吹取決於能否將中國列為『威脅』。對於面對跨國鎮壓的流散社群來說，這個用詞是否恰當毋庸置疑。正因如此，我們呼籲英國政府將中國納入『外國影響力登記計劃』的進階級別，並拒絕批准超級大使館計劃。」
Photo: Jordhan Madec on Unsplash