Select committee inquiry
Hong Kong: China's ban on the Committee's visit
Closed
What the inquiry looked at
“In July 2014, the Committee launched an inquiry into the UK’s relations with Hong Kong, 30 years after the signing of the Joint Declaration. As part of this inquiry, and in line with its usual practice, it planned to visit Hong Kong in December 2014. In November, the Committee was informed by the Chinese Government that it would not be allowed to enter Hong Kong. On 2 December the House of Commons held an Emergency Debate on China’s ban on the Committee’s visit. In this short report, the Committee considers the ban on its visit to Hong Kong and the FCO’s response.”
The committee's words, from the inquiry page on parliament.uk ↗.
What the government said
The government responded on 15 January 2015.
Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response.
The government says it takes the Committee's concerns "very seriously" and describes the decision to prevent the visit as "wholly unjustified, counterproductive and not in the spirit of the Sino-British Joint Declaration".
- On calls for a more robust response, it says the government "has been robust" and lists a series of conversations with Chinese and Hong Kong Ministers and officials between 6 November and 2 December.
- On the EU, it says it has raised the matter with partners, including EU Heads of Mission in Hong Kong, the European External Action Service and other Member States in Brussels.
- On summoning the Chinese Ambassador, the Minister asked him to a meeting on 17 December and later confirmed it "did not constitute an official summons". The response does not address the recommendation for formal written protests, saying only that the government is "confident" its position is clear.
- It says it will maintain its "regular programme of engagement on Hong Kong", and the Minister looks forward to giving evidence to the Committee in the New Year.
Read the government's response ↗ Read the report ↗ Report an error
How the inquiry ran
Each dot is a dated item listed on this page, from the inquiry's opening on 3 December 2014 to its close on 30 March 2015.
- Report 10 Dec 2014
- Government response 15 Jan 2015
What it recommended
The committee's recommendations are not listed here yet. Read them in 7th Report - Hong Kong: China's ban on the Committee's visit ↗ on parliament.uk.