63 MPs / Peers call for Dominic Raab to make 12 HK youths 'diplomatic priority'
On 22 October 2020, 63 MPs, led by Hong Kong Watch patron Lord Alton of Liverpool, wrote to the UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to call him to make the case of the 12 Hong Kong youths in Shenzhen a ‘diplomatic priority’.
The letter said:
“Dear Foreign Secretary,
We are writing to ask that you urgently make the ongoing detention of twelve young Hong Kong activists in Shenzhen a diplomatic priority.
The twelve Hong Kong youths detained in Shenzhen is a watershed case for Hong Kong, which will influence whether the extradition of pro-democracy activists to stand trial in the mainland becomes a common occurrence.
If the Chinese authorities are allowed to prosecute and imprison Hong Kong activists in the mainland with little outcry or response from the international community, Beijing will take this as a signal that it can use the National Security Law as a pretext to extradite other Hong Kong activists to stand trial. Once in the mainland, the presumption of guilt and a lengthy prison sentence is all but guaranteed.
The chilling effect of this trend would be profound. Extradition hanging over the heads of young Hong Kongers coupled with the National Security Law would be the death knell of free expression.
Furthermore, four of the twelve people in detention hold British National (Overseas) status. Their treatment should therefore be a matter of particular concern for the British government.
In view of this, we ask that you call on Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam and your counterpart in Beijing to immediately ensure the return of the twelve activists to Hong Kong, to guarantee that they have legal representation of their choosing, contact with their families, and to ensure the young people access to necessary prescribed medication. This is a simple matter of natural justice. We hope you will make it a priority.“
It was signed by:
House of Commons
Hilary Benn MP
Andrew Brigden MP
Fiona Bruce MP
Chris Bryant MP
Alistair Carmichael MP
Wendy Chamberlain MP
Sarah Champion MP
Daisy Cooper MP
Neil Coyle MP
Geraint Davies MP
David Davis MP
Iain Duncan Smith MP
Simon Fell MP
Damian Green MP
Andrew Gwynne MP
Christine Jardine MP
Chris Law MP
Clive Lewis MP
Layla Moran MP
Siobhain Mcdonagh MP
Stewart McDonald MP
Stuart McDonald MP
John McDonnell MP
Kate Osamor MP
Sarah Owen MP
Andrew Selous MP
Virendra Sharma MP
Alyn Smith MP
Henry Smith MP
Jamie Stone MP
Stephen Timms MP
Wera Hobhouse MP
Mohammad Yasin MP
House of Lords
Lord Adonis
Lord Alton of Liverpool
Lord Anderson of Ipswich
Baroness Bakewell
Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle
The Lord Bishop of Coventry
Lord Bowness
Lord Cashman
Lord Chidgey
Baroness Crawley
Baroness D’Souza
Lord Dholakia
Lord Dubs
Lord Freyberg
Baroness Golding
Baroness Hamwee
Lord Hunt of Kings Heath
Lord Hylton
Lord Judd
Lord Maginnis of Drumglass
Baroness Lister of Burtersett
Baroness Neville-Jones
Baroness Northover
Baroness O’Loan
Lord Rennard
Lord Rooker
Lord Shinkwin
Lord Strasburger
Lord Swinfen
Lord Wigley