Gedling Conservative MP and Vice Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Hong Kong, Tom Randall MP, has called on the Government to take steps to hold China to account for their planned reforms to Hong Kong’s electoral system.
Tom Randall MP participated in questions to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office from his home in Arnold on Wednesday and said: “The reported proposals in China’s National People’s Congress to change Hong Kong’s electoral system will break the promises that she has made and end democracy in Hong Kong.”
Tom than asked the Minister for Asia, Nigel Adams MP,: “With almost every prominent leader in Hong Kong’s democracy movement now on trial, in exile or in jail, what steps are the Government taking in multilateral institutions to hold China to account for her actions?”
In reply, the Minister for Asia said: “One example of that was on 22 February, when the Foreign Secretary addressed the United Nations Human Rights Council calling out the systematic violation of the rights of the people of Hong Kong. We have made it clear that free and fair legislative elections must take place. The impact of our diplomacy is reflected in the growing number of countries supporting the statements that we have led or co-ordinated at the UN: we have gone from 23 countries to 39 within a year. This sends a powerful message to China about the breadth of international concern.”
Commenting after, Tom said: “Sadly, the communist regime in China are continuing their attack on Hong Kong’s democracy. It is right that the UK Government hold them to account and does all it can to protect the democratic rights of Hong Kongers.”