Urgent question on latest Hong Kong protests
2 July 2019 (updated on 2 July 2019)
MP for Orkney and Shetland, Alistair Carmichael asked an urgent question in the Commons today on the continuing protests in Hong Kong.
The urgent question follows the latest incident in Hong Kong in which protestors broke into and vandalised the city's Legislative Council (LegCo) building on Monday 1 July 2019.
Minister of State for the Foreign Office, Sir Alan Duncan, responded to the urgent question and said:
"Of the hundreds and thousands of people who took part in the first July march yesterday, the vast majority of people did so in a peaceful and lawful manner. The UK is fully committed to upholding Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms under the one country, two systems principle; which is guaranteed by the legally binding joint declaration of 1984. We reject the Chinese Government's assertion that the joint declaration is an historic document, by which they mean it is no longer valid and that our rights and obligations under that treaty have ended."
Responding to the Government, Alistair Carmichael thanked the Minister and said:
"...can I ask him if the Government will now look at all meaningful sanctions at our disposal, including the possible use of Magnitsky powers, to ensure that those who infringe the human rights of the people of Hong Kong will have no hiding place in the United Kingdom."
- Watch Parliament TV: urgent question on Hong Kong
- Read Commons news: urgent question as Hong Kong protests continue (18 June 2019)
Transcripts of proceedings in the House of Commons Chamber are available in Hansard online three hours after they happen.
Follow the @HouseofCommons on Twitter for updates on the UK House of Commons Chamber.
Image: Studio Incendo
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