Parliamentarians urge UK Prime Minister to support Jimmy Lai on China trip

Today, 35 MPs and Peers have issued a joint letter urging the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, to raise the case of Jimmy Lai when he travels to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) this week. 

The cross-party letter, which was issued by Hong Kong Watch Patron and Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, the Lord Alton of Liverpool, was signed by Parliamentarians including Hong Kong Watch Patrons the Baroness Kennedy of the Shaws LT KC, Alistair Carmichael MP, Tom Tugendhat MP, and James Naish MP. 

The letter notes that the Prime Minister has made interventions on behalf of Jimmy Lai at previous face-to-face meetings with Xi Jinping, the leader of the PRC, but that such interventions have not been sufficient to secure his release. The letter urges the UK government must now do its utmost to secure his release, and go beyond the mere raising of concerns with the representatives of foreign powers. 

You can access the full letter with signatories here. 

Lord Alton of Liverpool, Patron of Hong Kong Watch and Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, commented: 

“It is of great importance that the United Kingdom government demonstrates that it is willing to stand up for the safety and security of its citizens imprisoned overseas. We should not put too much credence in arguments or threats that doing so will imperil our economic relationship with the PRC. I urge the Prime Minister to heed this letter, signed by Parliamentarians from both houses and a range of parties, and act to secure the release of Jimmy Lai from unjust imprisonment.” 

Benedict Rogers, co-founder and Chair of Hong Kong Watch, commented: 

“Jimmy Lai sits in prison awaiting sentencing, following the conclusion of his show trial in December. Without urgent intervention, he may die in prison. The Prime Minister must do his utmost to avoid this eventuality and press the case for his release to Beijing. The life of a British citizen hangs in the balance.” 

英首相施紀賢本週訪中 35位跨黨派議員聯署促請爭取釋放黎智英

今天，35位英國上下兩院國會議員向英國首相施紀賢（Keir Starmer）發出聯署信，促請他本週訪問中國時提出黎智英的案件。

這封跨黨派議員信由英國國會人權聯合委員會主席、香港監察贊助人奧爾頓勳爵（Lord Alton of Liverpool）發出，並獲香港監察贊助人肯尼迪女男爵（Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws）、甘文康（Alistair Carmichael）、董勤達（Tom Tugendhat）和James Naish等多位國會議員簽署支持。

信中指出，首相之前與中國國家主席習近平面談時曾經就黎智英案向中方交涉，惟不足以爭取放人。信中力勸英國政府立即竭力爭取放人，而不只是停留在向外國代表提出關注的層面。

聯署信全文可見此處。

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表示：

「英國政府必須展現願意捍衛在海外被監禁英國公民安全的決心，這點非常重要。我們不應過分相信認為這樣做會危及英中經濟關係的論點或威脅。我促請首相正視這封獲上下兩院各黨派議員簽署的信件，並採取行動確保黎智英獲釋，結束不公監禁。」

香港監察共同創辦人兼信託董事會主席羅傑斯（Benedict Rogers）表示：

「去年12月的做騷公審（show trial）告一段落後，黎智英仍在獄中等待判決。若不緊急介入的話，他可能會死在獄中。首相必須竭盡全力避免這種情況發生，要求北京放人。一位英國公民的生命危在旦夕。」

Photo: Jordhan Madec on Unsplash