PRESS RELEASE: CFHK calls on Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss to commit to standing up to the actions of the Chinese Communist Party and defend the people of Hong Kong
Tuesday 26th July – The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) have written to the final two candidates in the Conservative Party leadership contest and to the person who will become the UK’s next Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss, demanding both candidates to commit to standing up to the actions of the Chinese Communist Party. The UK’s relationship with China is rightly becoming a key point of focus in this race, and each candidate must outline the steps they will take to combat the CCP’s malicious influence.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has been seen to take a stronger stance on China, having released a number of statements this year, but the statements were not followed up by tangible actions. Rishi Sunak on the other hand, had been endorsed as “China’s candidate” early on in the leadership, with the Global Times stating that he was “the one candidate with a pragmatic view of developing balanced ties with China.” CFHK welcomes Sunak’s withdrawal from his previously held position, with Sunak issuing a statement saying that “China is the biggest long-term threat to Britain and the world’s economic and national security.”
Since the introduction of the National Security Law in 2020, the situation in Hong Kong has gone from bad to worse, with thousands of Hong Kongers being arrested and imprisoned for simply exercising their right to freedom of speech and democracy. Jimmy Lai, a British citizen, and the Apple Daily Six are among the those incarcerated for the role they played in pro-democracy news outlet Apple Daily.
CFHK now calls on each candidate to further outline how their Government will stand up to Beijing and protect the Sino-British declaration, which China has effectively torn up.
The measures each candidate has announced are welcome, but do not yet go far enough. The UK should include imposing Magnitsky-style sanctions on those Chinese and Hong Kong officials who have allowed the Declaration to be broken and for the freedoms of the Hong Kong people to be destroyed.
CFHK is calling for candidates to:
CFHK has asked both candidates for a response to the letter by the 5th of September.
CFHK President, Mark Clifford, said:
“The UK’s position on China has so far been weak. Now is the perfect time for the UK to harden its position on China and stand up for the people of Hong Kong.
“So far, the UK has been vocal in its opposition to China and its actions in Hong Kong, however, has failed to implement physical actions such as Magnitsky-style sanctions on those who have facilitated the crackdown on freedoms and arresting people for simply exercising their right to freedom of speech and democracy.
“CFHK would like to see the next Prime Minister taking this tougher approach by imposing sanctions, as well as demanding for the immediate release of all political prisoners currently imprisoned in Hong Kong. The people of Hong Kong deserve this at the very least.”
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has been seen to take a stronger stance on China, having released a number of statements this year, but the statements were not followed up by tangible actions. Rishi Sunak on the other hand, had been endorsed as “China’s candidate” early on in the leadership, with the Global Times stating that he was “the one candidate with a pragmatic view of developing balanced ties with China.” CFHK welcomes Sunak’s withdrawal from his previously held position, with Sunak issuing a statement saying that “China is the biggest long-term threat to Britain and the world’s economic and national security.”
Since the introduction of the National Security Law in 2020, the situation in Hong Kong has gone from bad to worse, with thousands of Hong Kongers being arrested and imprisoned for simply exercising their right to freedom of speech and democracy. Jimmy Lai, a British citizen, and the Apple Daily Six are among the those incarcerated for the role they played in pro-democracy news outlet Apple Daily.
CFHK now calls on each candidate to further outline how their Government will stand up to Beijing and protect the Sino-British declaration, which China has effectively torn up.
The measures each candidate has announced are welcome, but do not yet go far enough. The UK should include imposing Magnitsky-style sanctions on those Chinese and Hong Kong officials who have allowed the Declaration to be broken and for the freedoms of the Hong Kong people to be destroyed.
CFHK is calling for candidates to:
- Stand up to Beijing and protecting the Sino-British declaration, which has effectively been torn up.
- Impose Magnitsky-style sanctions on those Chinese and Hong Kong officials who have allowed the Sino-British Declaration to be broken and for the freedoms of the Hong Kong people to be destroyed.
- Demand the immediate release of all political prisoners currently imprisoned in Hong Kong, including British citizen Jimmy Lai.
- Acknowledge and condemning the ongoing genocide of the Uyghur people which is being committed by the Chinese Communist Party in the Xinjiang region in China.
CFHK has asked both candidates for a response to the letter by the 5th of September.
CFHK President, Mark Clifford, said:
“The UK’s position on China has so far been weak. Now is the perfect time for the UK to harden its position on China and stand up for the people of Hong Kong.
“So far, the UK has been vocal in its opposition to China and its actions in Hong Kong, however, has failed to implement physical actions such as Magnitsky-style sanctions on those who have facilitated the crackdown on freedoms and arresting people for simply exercising their right to freedom of speech and democracy.
“CFHK would like to see the next Prime Minister taking this tougher approach by imposing sanctions, as well as demanding for the immediate release of all political prisoners currently imprisoned in Hong Kong. The people of Hong Kong deserve this at the very least.”
About CFHK
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong presses for political and economic consequences for China’s failure to keep its promises to respect Hong Kong’s freedoms; supports the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the release of political prisoners; and urges the business community to stand against China’s assault on freedom and the danger it poses to Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world.
For more information, please contact:
media@thecfhk.org
www.thecfhk.org
@thecfhk
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong presses for political and economic consequences for China’s failure to keep its promises to respect Hong Kong’s freedoms; supports the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the release of political prisoners; and urges the business community to stand against China’s assault on freedom and the danger it poses to Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world.
For more information, please contact:
media@thecfhk.org
www.thecfhk.org
@thecfhk