UK GOVERNMENT'S APPROACH TO HUMAN RIGHTS, CHINA, & ETHICAL INVESTMENT

20:30 - 22:00 on 3 October 2021, Sunday at Exchange Rooms 4 &5, Manchester Central

Hong Kong Watch alongside the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission will be hosting an event at Conservative Party Conference 2021 in Manchester focusing on the government's approach to human rights, China, and ethical investment.

We hope that if you are attending the Conservative Party Conference that you will be able to join us. To RSVP your attendance: UK Government's Approach to Human Rights, China, & Ethical Investment, Sun 3 Oct 2021 at 20:30|Eventbrite

Event outline:

Parliament says there is a genocide taking place in Xinjiang, but investment by Britain's financial institutions into China is skyrocketing. Is this sustainable? There is a growing consensus that investment firms have a responsibility to consider environmental, social and governance factors when making investment decisions. But while concerted action is taking place to curb investment into oil firms and polluters, there is minimal regulation to stop us funding firms complicit in modern slavery or genocide.

From China to Myanmar, this is a serious blind spot. This panel will look at what responsibilities international firms should have to stop the funding of rights violations, and how the UK government should approach this issue and pressure a change in government policy.

Chair: Tim Loughton MP

Tim Loughton is Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham. He served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families from May 2010 to September 2012. Prior to Parliament, Tim worked in the private sector as a fund manager in the City of London before becoming a Director at Fleming Private Asset Management.

Speakers:

1. Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP

Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP is a former leader of the Conservative Party and former Leader of the Opposition, who served as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in Prime Minister David Cameron’s Cabinet, founded the Centre for Social Justice and established the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC).

2. Baroness Helena Morrissey DBE

Baroness Helena Morrissey is the Lead Non-executive Director for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and also held a Non-executive Directorship at a multinational wealth management company. Other previous roles include Head of Personal Investing at a well-known financial services company, and Chief Executive at a global investment management firm. In 2010, she founded the 30% Club, and has played a leading role in improving diversity on the boards of 'UK plc'.

3. Nusrat Ghani MP

Nusrat Ghani MP is Member of Parliament for Wealden, a member of the House of Commons Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Select Committee and a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC). She is a former government minister, having served as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Transport and Lord Commissioner of HM Treasury. She has been a leading voice in Parliament on the genocide of the Uyghurs, and – together with Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP – led the genocide amendment to the Trade Bill earlier this year.

4. Benedict Rogers, Hong Kong Watch

Benedict Rogers is co-founder and Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch, co-founder and Deputy Chair of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission and a former parliamentary candidate. He helped organise the Commission’s two inquiries on human rights in China, in 2016 and 2020, and wrote the Commission’s reports The Darkest Moment and The Darkness Deepens. He is a regular contributor to international media, including BBC, The Wall Street Journal, The Daily Telegraph, The Spectator, Foreign Policy, The Diplomat, Conservativehome.com and others and serves on the advisory boards of both the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC) and the Stop Uyghur Genocide Campaign.