19Apr 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Jimmy Lai: UK Government must stand up for Hong Kong’s democracy

Jimmy Lai: UK Government must stand up for Hong Kong’s democracy

Parliamentary news
Reacting to the news that Jimmy Lai, the owner of Hong Kong's last opposition newspaper, has been sentenced to a year in prison, Lib Dem Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Layla Moran MP said: "Jimmy Lai's sentencing is a solemn, urgent reminder the UK and the international community that democratic opposition is being snuffed out in Hong Kong. “The UK is failing in its duty under the Joint Declaration and international law to preserve Hong Kong’s democracy and human rights. Any red line has been crossed. The time for Dominic Raab and Boris Johnson to act is long overdue. “The Liberal Democrats will stand, as we always have, with the people of Hong Kong. The Government can make no more excuses - it is time for the UK to step up, lead…
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30Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
UK failing in its duty to Hong Kong

UK failing in its duty to Hong Kong

Parliamentary news
Responding to China imposing sweeping electoral changes in Hong Kong, Liberal Democrats Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs Layla Moran MP said: “This amending of the Basic Law by China’s rubber-stamp legislature is a clear breach of the Joint Declaration. The Government must respond with firm action, as it has done elsewhere - words of condemnation have done nothing to protect Hong Kong’s democracy. “The UK is failing in its duty under the Joint Declaration and international law to preserve Hong Kong’s institutions and human rights. Any red line has been crossed. If Dominic Raab won’t stand up now and act, when? “The Liberal Democrats will stand, as we always have, with the people of Hong Kong. The Government can make no more excuses - it is time for the UK to…
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10Mar 2021 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Hong Kong: Government must act to prevent end of democracy

Hong Kong: Government must act to prevent end of democracy

Parliamentary news
Today, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran, has challenged the Government to set out a clear plan to protect Hong Kong's democracy & Basic Law. Layla has called on new Magnitsky sanctions and bringing the case to the International Court of Justice. Layla Moran secured an Urgent Question in Parliament about the proposed reforms to Hong Kong’s electoral system by the Chinese Government. Under the plans, people wishing to stand for election in Hong Kong will have to be approved as ‘patriots’ by a panel of Communist Party officials. Layla said the Government had a “legal obligation” to act and that “bullies” like China "only understand words when they are followed by action. Speaking after her Urgent Question to the Minister for Asia, she said: “I urge the Government…
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13Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Lib Dems call for robust action in face of China’s latest breach of Joint Declaration

Lib Dems call for robust action in face of China’s latest breach of Joint Declaration

Parliamentary news
Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran has today challenged Ministers to "stop stalling" and act to hold China to account for putting democracy in Hong Kong in “mortal peril”. In an Urgent Question in the House of Commons, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran, who is also a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, called on the Government to commit to “decisive action”. Despite the Chinese Government making what Ms Moran described as a “mockery of the Joint Declaration”, the Foreign Office Minister Nigel Adams merely confirmed that Magnitsky sanctions were still “under consideration.” The Party is calling on the Government to work with international allies to take legal action against China’s latest breach of the Joint Declaration, as well as calling for a lifeboat system to…
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11Nov 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Raab must condemn “reprehensible” disqualification of elected lawmakers in Hong Kong

Raab must condemn “reprehensible” disqualification of elected lawmakers in Hong Kong

Parliamentary news
Responding to reports that four opposition pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong have been disqualified with immediate effect, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson Layla Moran said: “The disqualification of elected lawmakers in Hong Kong is reprehensible and marks another step in China’s work to end democracy and freedom on the peninsula. “The UK must immediately condemn this in the strongest possible terms. ‘One country, two systems’ is disappearing before our eyes. First the new national security law, now the unwinding of democracy - at what point will Dominic Raab step up? “Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to provide safe passage and a clear route to citizenship for all Hong Kongers, and to implement Magnitsky-style sanctions on individuals responsible for human rights abuses there.”
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23Oct 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems push for expansion of Hong Kong citizenship offer

Parliamentary news
A Liberal Democrat Bill to grant all Hong Kong Citizens a pathway to UK citizenship and “strengthen the UK’s historic bond with the people of Hong Kong” is scheduled to have its Second Reading debate in the House of Commons today. The Bill, tabled by Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, Chair of the APPG on Hong Kong and Patron of Hong Kong Watch, would create a route to UK citizenship for all Hong Kongers. By expanding British National Overseas (BNO) status to all Hong Kongers, the Bill goes well beyond the Conservative Government’s current citizenship commitments, which extend only to specific groups currently eligible to claim BNO status. The Liberal Democrats have condemned the Home Office’s “deceptive” claim that the cost of a five-year visa for Hong Kongers will be…
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29Sep 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani
Govt must prepare for international ‘lifeboat’ system for Hong Kongers, Lib Dems warn

Govt must prepare for international ‘lifeboat’ system for Hong Kongers, Lib Dems warn

Parliamentary news
The Liberal Democrats have agreed plans at their Autumn Conference that, if accepted by Ministers, would see all Hong Kongers offered a path to citizenship and a new international ‘lifeboat’ system if the situation in the region deteriorates further. Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael, the Chair of the APPG on Hong Kong and a Patron of Hong Kong watch, warned “the UK has a moral and legal duty to stand with Hong Kongers and ensure no one is left behind to suffer under the Chinese Communist Party." The debate at the Party’s first digital conference included contributions from anonymous members of the Liberal Democrats living in Hong Kong and saw speakers where a mask in solidarity with Joshua Wong, the pro-democracy protest leader in Hong Kong who was recently been…
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07Aug 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Lib Dems back calls for Magnitsky-style sanctions against Hong Kong human rights abusers

Parliamentary news
The All Party Parliamentary Group for Hong Kong has published the findings of its inquiry into violations of human rights and humanitarian principles by the Hong Kong Police Force, including a series of recommendations.  Following the publication of the report Alistair Carmichael, Chair of the APPG for Hong Kong and Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson, said: “The APPG's first inquiry into the situation in Hong Kong has vital findings that the Government must sit up and listen to. "Among other things, implementing Magnitsky-style sanctions against those who have committed human rights violations in the territory must be an absolute priority. "The Government have kicked the can down the road long enough on this. If they are serious about promoting human rights abroad and about our legal duty to the people of Hong Kong then…
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23Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

All Hong Kongers must be given right to live in the UK

Parliamentary news
Responding to the Home Secretary's writen statement on the Government's BNO passport policy for Hong Kongers, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson and Chair of the APPG on Hong Kong Alistair Carmichael said: “The Government must put these measures in place as soon as possible to protect Hong Kongers. We have already seen how the Chinese Communist Party are using the new laws to crack down on people’s rights and freedoms. “Liberal Democrats have been calling for these protections since the time of Paddy Ashdown. We are pleased that the government is finally listening. “Now, we are urging Boris Johnson to ensure no one is left behind. The offer must be expanded to ensure all Hong Kongers have the right to live in the UK, regardless of whether they have BNO status.”
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01Jul 2020 by Sam Al-Hamdani

Government must not abandon Hong Kong youth

Parliamentary news
Following Raab's statement that China has broken the Joint Declaration by imposing the new 'security law' on Hong Kong, and that the UK govt will now be offering a path to citizenship for BNO status holders, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs Spokesperson and Chair of the APPG on Hong Kong Alistair Carmichael said: “It is right that the UK Government are taking swift action to help protect the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, but they must go further. "The UK made a promise to the people of Hong Kong. We must keep that promise. "Liberal Democrats are urging the Government to make sure no one in the region is left behind. The Government’s current proposal abandons many young Hong Kongers, some of whom have been at the fore…
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