‘Respect for human rights needs to be central to any economic, security or other agreements with China’ - Polly Truscott 

Ahead of Rachel Reeves’ expected visit to China, which comes in the wake of arrest warrants being issued for Hong Kong pro-democracy activists living in the UK, Amnesty International has urged the Chancellor to challenge the Chinese authorities over their brutal suppression of human rights and to ensure that human rights are central to any deals or agreements made during the trip.

Amnesty is also urging Reeves to directly raise the issue of transnational repression against activists living in the UK, and to call for the release of British national Jimmy Lai and other detainees held in Hong Kong.

Polly Truscott, Amnesty International’s UK Foreign Policy Adviser, said: 

“The Chancellor must challenge Beijing’s brutal suppression of human rights, including its persecution of Chinese and Hong Kong activists in the UK.  

 

“Hong Kong’s recent placing of ‘Wild West’-style bounties on activists’ heads in the UK shows how the Hong Kong and Beijing authorities both believe they can intimidate and silence their critics overseas with complete impunity.  

“Rachel Reeves’ visit is an opportunity to show that the UK will put human rights front and centre in its relationship with Beijing.

“Respect for human rights needs to be central to any economic, security or other agreements with China.     

“Behind closed doors and in public, Ms Reeves needs to challenge the Chinese government over its systematic, industrial-scale repression of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet - including forced labour - and its widespread imprisonment of peaceful activists.

“The Chancellor must insist that China and Hong Kong cease their completely unacceptable intimidation of students and campaigners here in the UK. 

“Ms Reeves must also demand the immediate release of British national and prisoner of conscience Jimmy Lai, human rights lawyer Chow Hang-tung and the 45 Hong Kong pro-democracy activists recently convicted of ‘conspiring to subvert state power’ in the city’s largest national security trial.”  

Long arm of Chinese state repression  

The Chinese authorities routinely target peaceful critics via pervasive online censorship, arbitrary arrest, detention and torture. Human rights defenders, pro-democracy activists and religious leaders and practitioners have been among those subjected to systematic persecution. The widespread repression of ethnic minorities in Xinjiang and Tibet has continued despite significant international criticism. 

In Hong Kong, journalists, broadcasters and book publishers have been among those prosecuted and imprisoned under the territory’s notorious National Security Law and other repressive legislation, while civil society organisations - both in Hong Kong and abroad - have faced criminal charges or harassment for their legitimate activities. The long arm of Chinese state repression has meant that Chinese and Hong Kong communities in the UK, other parts of Europe and North America have all suffered various kinds of threats and intimidation, part of a sinister pattern of “transnational repression”. 

On 24 December, Hong Kong police announced a third round of HK$1million (about £105,000) bounties for information that would lead to the arrest of six democracy advocates based overseas whom they accuse of national security crimes. To date, 19 Hong Kong overseas activists have been targeted, most of whom live in the UK.