During a recent trip to Hong Kong, a British parliamentarian recounted an unexpectedly distressing experience upon arrival, where she was denied entry into the territory. The incident unfolded last week, when she and her husband flew to Hong Kong with the intention of meeting their newborn grandson for the very first time. Initially welcoming, the trip quickly took a turn when, after presenting her passport at the immigration control, the official paused, indicating that there may have been an issue.
The immigration official subsequently led the woman to a separate room for questioning, where she faced a thorough interrogation and a search of her luggage. Despite spending three hours in limbo, she was ultimately informed that she would be put on the next flight back to London, with her passport returned only once the plane had landed.
Throughout this ordeal, the woman expressed feelings of anguish for being unable to meet her family and confusion regarding the reasons for her deportation. The Chinese government has not provided a clear explanation for the denial of her entry, stating that “the Hong Kong SAR [special administrative region] government has the authority to handle individual cases of entry.” However, the parliamentarian has drawn her own conclusions, suggesting that her criticism of Beijing’s record on human rights may have played a role in her deportation.
She further articulated her longstanding commitment to values such as democracy and civil liberties, recalling past moments when these ideals were particularly significant to her life. Drawing parallels to her experiences, she raised concerns about the rising tide of authoritarianism that she perceives as increasingly threatening to fundamental freedoms.
In her remarks, she highlighted the implications of this incident for the United Kingdom. She stated that officials should not accept lack of transparency from the Chinese government, advocating for a direct approach in future engagements. "If you will not be straight and don’t answer legitimate questions we cannot engage with you on the basis of mutual trust," she noted, adding that no government minister should visit China without clear explanations regarding entry refusals.
The parliamentarian emphasised the necessity for the UK government to take action against the advancing influence of the Chinese security apparatus domestically, specifically referring to proposals for a new Chinese “super embassy” in the UK. She argued that establishing such a base for potential intelligence operations should not be considered acceptable.
Moreover, she cited a recent crisis at the Scunthorpe steelworks as a concrete example of the vulnerabilities posed by foreign corporate interests, particularly those from China, in national infrastructure. The refusal of British Steel’s owners, Jingye, to accept a substantial government financial package to support the plant has raised questions about dependence on foreign entities that may not align with British interests.
In light of these events, the parliamentarian is advocating for an audit of UK-based assets owned by entities from countries highlighted by the Foreign Office as having significant human rights concerns, including China. She is pressing for the government to expedite the completion of an anticipated UK-China audit that was originally expected to be published earlier this year.
The incident has catalysed a broader discussion on the UK’s relationship with China, emphasising the need for vigilance in the face of perceived threats to democratic values and human rights.
Source: Noah Wire Services