In a joint letter issued today, NGOs and groups helping Hong Kongers to settle in the UK have urged the government to take action to ensure the right to protest is protected in the UK.
On 17 October 2022, when a group of Hong Kongers protested peacefully outside the consulate of People’s Republic of China, a small group of men reportedly came out of the consulate building. One of the protesters was dragged into the consulate ground and assaulted.
Civil society groups helping to welcome Hong Kongers to the UK say they fear that the incident could make Hong Kongers living in Britain, or thinking about settling in the UK, “wary about the prospect of a peaceful life in the UK”. The letter asks the government to reassure Hong Kongers that their rights will be protected in the UK.
The text of the joint letter is as follows:
Dear Prime Minister, Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary,
We write to express our deep concern about the events on 17 October 2022 in Manchester outside and inside the consulate of the Chinese People’s Republic, when peaceful protesters were beaten and forcibly detained.
The right to peaceful protest is critical to British democracy. Many Hong Kongers have come to the UK under the BN(O) visa scheme exactly because they have fled persecution and the curtailment of their democratic rights in Hong Kong.
If the promises the UK has given Hong Kongers – and indeed the high standards of British democracy – are to mean anything, this kind of illegal behaviour must not be allowed to stand. Already many Hong Kongers face harassment by agents of the Chinese authorities operating in the UK. The events of 17 October could make many Hong Kongers already living here, or those thinking about applying to settle through the BN(O) scheme, wary about the prospect of a peaceful life in the UK.
We therefore urge you to take the toughest possible action against the individuals in question and to send a twin message. Firstly to the Chinese authorities that the behaviour of their diplomatic staff is intolerable and consequences will be incurred; and secondly to Hong Kongers to reassure them – and indeed all Britons – of their rights and protection in the UK from the bullying behaviour of foreign states.
We copy this letter to the Mayor of Manchester.
Sincerely yours,
Nathan Law, activist and author
Samuel Lai, At Home Foundation;
Jo Broadwood, Chief Executive, Belong;
Ryan Shorthouse, Director, Bright Blue
Sunder Katwala, Director, British Future;
Pastor Roy Chan, Good Neighbour Church England;
Hackney Chinese Community Services;
C Mui, Hong Kong Aid;
Simon Cheng, Hong Kongers in Britain;
Jim Wong, Director, Hong Kong Link Up;
Benedict Rogers, Chief Executive, Hong Kong Watch;
Luke de Pulford, Coordinator, Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China;
Luke Tryl, UK Director, More in Common;
Basil Wong, Power to Hongkongers;
Dr Krish Kandiah, Founder, Sanctuary Foundation;
Neil Jameson, Director, UK Welcomes Hong Kongers;
Daniel Korski, Chair, Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers
;
