This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Petition Sanction Hong Kong officials responsible for human rights violations
G7 Leaders Summit will take place in June. As the year's host, the United Kingdom should impose sanctions on perpetrators of human rights abuses in Hong Kong, as a way to restore public trust in democracies when the Chinese Communist Party takes an authoritarian shift in this once-autonomous city.
More details
After the passage of the National Security Law, China imposed an electoral overhaul that introduces a screening panel for candidates and marginalises dissenting views. Democratic campaigners are mostly barred from running for office.
Most of the democratic campaigners in Hong Kong are on trial, in jail or in exile. All these persecutions on Hong Kong people are flagrant breaches of China's pledge of liberty and autonomy enshrined in the Sino-British Joint Statement.
This petition is closed This petition ran for 6 months
Government responded
This response was given on 7 June 2021
We carefully consider sanctions designations. It is not appropriate to speculate who may be designated in the future or we risk reducing the impact of the designations.
As a signatory to the Sino-British Joint Declaration, China has legal obligations to uphold Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy, and the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong, for at least 50 years from 1997. It has breached these obligations through the imposition of the National Security Law on Hong Kong, the introduction of rules to disqualify elected Hong Kong lawmakers, and the introduction of radical changes to restrict participation in Hong Kong’s electoral system.
Meanwhile, the Hong Kong authorities have repeatedly targeted pro-democracy figures for prosecution. This is unacceptable and must stop. The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to Hong Kong’s way of life, protected in both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law, and it should be upheld.
The UK Government has taken three clear policy actions in response. This has included the creation of a new tailored immigration route for British Nationals (Overseas) and their immediate family members and dependants, the indefinite suspension of the UK’s extradition treaty with Hong Kong and the extension of the China arms embargo to include Hong Kong.
We will continue to consider sanctions designations but it is not appropriate to speculate who may be designated in the future.
We will not duck our historic responsibilities to the people of Hong Kong. We will continue to raise our concerns with the Chinese and Hong Kong Governments. We will also continue to bring together our like-minded partners to stand up for the people of Hong Kong, to call out the violation of their rights and freedoms, and to hold China to their international obligations.
Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
Related activity
MPs to debate human rights in Hong Kong
MPs will debate human rights in Hong Kong on Wednesday 9 June in Westminster Hall.
This will be a general debate. General debates allow MPs to debate important issues, however they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.
The debate will start at 2.30pm and last for up to an hour and a half.
Watch the debate: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/ea1ec5f5-28d0-4db7-800f-b853f76a4c37
You'll be able to read a transcript of the debate a few hours after it happens: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-06-09
Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/
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MPs will hold a debate on Magintsky sanctions and human rights abuses on Wednesday 8 December in Westminster Hall. The debate will be led by Chris Bryant MP.
The debate will start at 4.30pm and last for up to an hour.
Watch the debate: https://parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/54ae615a-e3ab-4f26-8faa-2074d54880f5
You'll be able to read a transcript of the debate a few hours after it happens: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-12-08
This will be a general debate. General debates allow MPs to debate important issues, however they do not end in a vote nor can they change the law.
Find out more about how Parliamentary debates work:
https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/
Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament
You can sign up to the UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://learning.parliament.uk/en/your-uk-parliament-newsletter-sign-up-form/
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Watch the debate back: https://www.parliamentlive.tv/Event/Index/3f3ed355-c604-4267-bc5e-60a8ccbf0eb7
Read a transcript of the debate here: https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2022-06-29/debates/08E61E50-CCD3-44C4-87A4-BBD6310DE67F/HongKongAnniversaries
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Find out more about Westminster Hall debates: https://www.parliament.uk/about/how/business/debates/westminster-hall-debates/
Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament
Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: https://parliament.us16.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=3ad7e4c57a864f07e4db008c4&id=26d0645ea9
MPs debate sanctions for human rights abuses and corruption
MPs debated sanctions for human rights abuses and corruption on Thursday 21 July, in the House of Commons.
The debate was led by Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP. Rehman Chishti MP, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, responded for the Government.
What are backbench business debates?
Backbench business debates give backbenchers (MPs who aren’t ministers or shadow ministers) an opportunity to secure a debate on a topic of their choice, either in the Chamber or Westminster Hall.
MPs can make a request for a debate to the Backbench Business Committee, who hears and decides which debates to schedule.
Backbench debates can either be general debates (which do not end in a vote) or be on a substantive motion (which calls for an action and can end in a vote). This debate was a general debate.
Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament
Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference.
MPs debate the future of human rights in Hong Kong
On Tuesday 23 January, MPs took part in a Westminster Hall debate on the future of Human Rights in Hong Kong. The debate was led by Tim Loughton MP. The Minister of State for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Anne-Marie Trevelyan MP, responded to the debate on behalf of the Government.
What is a Westminster Hall debate?
Westminster Hall is the second chamber of the House of Commons. Westminster Hall debates give MPs an opportunity to raise local and national issues and receive a response from a government minister. Westminster Hall debates are general debates that do not end in a vote.
Get involved in the work of the UK Parliament
Sign up to the Your UK Parliament newsletter for the latest information on how to get involved and make a difference: