[Updated] UK Foreign Secretary expresses concerns about Expulsion of US media from China and Hong Kong following Hong Kong Watch letter

On 1 April 2020, the UK Foreign Secretary, Dominic Raab, sent a letter to Benedict Rogers in response to an 18 March letter from the Hong Kong Watch patrons and Lord Patten concerning the expulsion of journalists from China, and the barring of these journalists from working in Hong Kong. 

Raab condemned the expulsion of journalists, and laid particular attention on Hong Kong, saying: "The suggestion that this may apply in HK is of particular concern. The Joint Declaration is clear. It sets out that immigration [is] sole responsibility of HKSAR, & freedom of the press is guaranteed."

His letter followed an 18 March letter from the last Governor of Hong Kong Lord Patten of Barnes, together with former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind, barrister Sir Geoffrey Nice QC and a cross-party group of Parliamentarians expressing “grave concern” over the decision by the Chinese Foreign Ministry to expel United States citizens working for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the New York Times from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau, calling for action by the United Kingdom as a co-signatory to the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

The letter, also signed by the Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong Alistair Carmichael MP (Liberal Democrat), the Chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission Fiona Bruce MP (Conservative), Shadow Sports Minister Catherine West MP (Labour) and the Independent Cross-bench Peer Lord Alton of Liverpool, who along with Sir Malcolm Rifkind and Sir Geoffrey Nice serve as Patrons of Hong Kong Watch, called the expulsion of journalists from three of the world’s most influential media “a severe violation of Hong Kong’s Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration” and urges the United Kingdom as a co-signatory to “speak out in the clearest and most robust terms against this outrageous decision.”

Benedict Rogers, co-founder and Chair of Hong Kong Watch, said:

“The fact that the last Governor of Hong Kong, Lord Patten, along with a group of prominent parliamentarians and public figures from across the political divide have come together to write to the Foreign Secretary and urge action demonstrates the seriousness of the Chinese Government’s decision, and the likely ramifications it will have on press freedom and Hong Kong’s role as a financial centre.

It is not just a blatant attack on press freedom at a time when every government should be ensuring transparency in the global fight against COVID-19, but it is a clear violation of the Sino-British Joint-Declaration and Hong Kong Basic Law.

The British Government has a legal and moral duty to respond. It cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party to use COVID-19 as cover to further erode the rule of law and freedoms that Hong Kong has long enjoyed.”

Text of the letter:

Dear Foreign Secretary,

We are writing to express our grave concern at the announcement yesterday by the Chinese Foreign Ministry of its decision to expel United States citizens working for the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post and the New York Times not only from mainland China but also from Hong Kong and Macau.

This decision is a flagrant assault on press freedom, coming at a time of global crisis due to the coronavirus pandemic and a time of political unrest in Hong Kong.

Furthermore, it is a severe violation of Hong Kong’s Basic Law and the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

Hong Kong’s Basic Law guarantees “freedom of speech, of the press and of publication” in Article 27, while Article 33 protects “freedom of choice of occupation”.

This is yet another example of the intensifying erosion of Hong Kong’s basic freedoms and autonomy, which have been increasingly undermined over the past six years. It is also a breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which guarantees Hong Kong’s freedoms and autonomy under the “one country, two systems” principle for the first 50 years after the handover of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty.

As co-signatory to the Joint Declaration, the United Kingdom has a responsibility to lead the world in speaking out in the clearest and most robust terms against this outrageous decision, which not only undermines press freedom in Hong Kong but will have a further effect on business confidence in the city. As an international financial and trading centre Hong Kong’s value to businesses comes from its reputation for the rule of law, transparency and basic freedoms. When this reputation is undermined, as it will be by today’s decision, confidence in Hong Kong as a place to do business will be undermined.

For all these reasons we are writing to request that you speak out urgently on this matter.

Signatories:

The Rt Hon Lord Patten of Barnes CH, Former Governor of Hong Kong

The Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC, Former Foreign Secretary, and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

The Rt Hon Professor Lord Alton of Liverpool KCMCO KCSG, Independent Cross-bench Peer and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

The Rt Hon Alistair Carmichael MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Co-Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong, and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

Fiona Bruce MP, Chair, Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

Catherine West MP, Shadow Minister for Sports, and Patron of Hong Kong Watch

Sir Geoffrey Nice QC, Patron of Hong Kong Watch