The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Secretary David Cameron said:
Hong Kong's National Security Law is a clear breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Its continued existence and use is a demonstration of China breaking its international commitments.
It has damaged Hong Kong, with rights and freedoms significantly eroded. Arrests under the law have silenced opposition voices.
I am gravely concerned that anyone is facing prosecution under the National Security Law, and particularly concerned at the politically motivated prosecution of British national Jimmy Lai.
As a prominent and outspoken journalist and publisher, Jimmy Lai has been targeted in a clear attempt to stop the peaceful exercise of his rights to freedom of expression and association.
I urge the Chinese authorities to repeal the National Security Law and end the prosecution of all individuals charged under it.
I call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their prosecution and release Jimmy Lai.
Background information
- 76 year old Jimmy Lai has been detained in Hong Kong since December 2020. He is facing charges of foreign collusion under the National Security Law and sedition. He is currently serving a charge of fraud.
- Jimmy Lai is a British citizen. The Chinese government considers anyone of Chinese heritage born in China to be a Chinese national. The Chinese government does not recognise dual nationality and therefore considers Mr Lai to be exclusively Chinese.
- The National Security Law was imposed by Beijing on 30 June 2020. The UK declared its imposition to be a breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on 2 July 2020.
- On 13 March 2021 the UK declared China to be in an ongoing state of non-compliance with the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
- We responded quickly and decisively to the enactment of the NSL in Hong Kong, introducing a new immigration path for British National's (Overseas), suspending our extradition treaty and extending our arms embargo on China to include Hong Kong.
