The Liberal Democrats have called on the UK Government to take firm action following the deportation of one of their MPs from Hong Kong, urging ministers to indefinitely suspend a forthcoming trade visit to China.
Bath MP Wera Hobhouse, who travelled to Hong Kong to visit her son and meet her newborn grandson, was detained, interrogated, and ultimately sent back to the UK. Ms Hobhouse, a long-standing critic of Beijing’s human rights record and a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (Ipac), said she believes she was barred from entering as a means of silencing dissenting voices.
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has now written to Foreign Secretary David Lammy, demanding a robust Government response to what he described as a blatant attempt to intimidate a sitting British MP. The letter, co-signed by Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman Calum Miller, outlined five key steps the party believes must be taken to uphold democratic values and defend the rights of British parliamentarians.
Sir Ed praised the Foreign Office’s initial support but criticised the Government’s subsequent silence, stating:
“For as long as this silence is allowed to continue, we can only conclude that the Chinese authorities have a secret blacklist of British parliamentarians.”
He added:
“It feels like you are now more interested in saving face with China than you are in standing up for the rights of British parliamentarians. There is also a wider principle at stake: if we timidly accept this kind of behaviour, it will only embolden China – together with other authoritarian states – in their efforts to intimidate us.”
In what is fast becoming a diplomatic flashpoint, Sir Ed is urging Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds to cancel a planned trip to China later this year. The visit, first reported by The Guardian, is seen by the Lib Dems as inappropriate under the current circumstances.
The party has also called for an immediate freeze on UK entry for Chinese and Hong Kong legislators until a full explanation is provided for Ms Hobhouse’s treatment. In addition, they are demanding the release of all footage or transcripts relating to her questioning at the airport, and that the Chinese ambassador be summoned to explain the incident.
Sir Ed’s letter further urged the Government to publish any relevant minutes from Trade Minister Douglas Alexander’s recent meetings with Chinese officials during his trip to China this week.
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A Foreign Office spokesperson said:
“We continue to press the Hong Kong authorities to provide clear evidence to Ms Hobhouse to explain why she was refused entry to Hong Kong. As the Foreign Secretary has said, it would be unacceptable for an MP to be denied entry for simply expressing their views as a Parliamentarian.”
The incident has raised concerns about growing tensions between the UK and China, particularly following recent controversies over Beijing’s actions in Hong Kong, which critics argue have eroded the territory’s autonomy and freedoms under the “one country, two systems” framework.
Ms Hobhouse, who was reportedly shocked and distressed by the experience, has remained defiant, stating she will continue to speak out on issues relating to democracy and human rights in China and Hong Kong. The row adds to mounting pressure on the Government to clarify its position on engagement with China, amid calls from across the political spectrum for a more assertive stance. With relations between London and Beijing becoming increasingly strained, the coming days may prove decisive in shaping the UK’s diplomatic approach.
