British MP Wera Hobhouse was denied entry to Hong Kong on her personal trip, sparking outrage among parliamentarians and concerns about the erosion of rule of law in the city.
Outcry after British MP Refused Entry to Hong Kong
Wera Hobhouse, a British MP, was denied entry to Hong Kong on Thursday for a personal trip to visit her son and new grandson. She is the first British MP to be refused entry on arrival in Hong Kong since the former British colony was handed over to China in 1997.
Wera Hobhouse is a British Member of Parliament (MP) representing the constituency of Bath.
Born on July 9, 1968, in Berlin, Germany, she moved to the UK at a young age and grew up in Somerset.
With a background in environmental science and policy, Hobhouse has been an advocate for climate action, social justice, and human rights.
She was first elected as MP in 2015 and has since become known for her passionate speeches and tireless campaigning on various issues affecting the community.
The Incident and Reaction
Hobhouse told the Sunday Times that she had been waiting at the arrivals gate with her son, who has lived in Hong Kong since 2019. She described the decision as ‘cruel‘ and an ‘insult to all parliamentarians‘. Her parliamentary colleagues expressed outrage at the decision, with Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey saying it was ‘heartless’ and ‘totally unacceptable’.
Wera Hobhouse, a British politician and Member of Parliament, was involved in an incident while traveling to Hong Kong.
According to reports, she was subjected to a security screening at the airport that lasted for several hours.
The exact circumstances surrounding her treatment are unclear.
However, it is known that she expressed frustration with the experience on social media.
The incident sparked discussions about travel regulations and passenger rights.
Details of the incident remain limited.
Foreign Secretary’s Response
Foreign secretary David Lammy said he was deeply concerned about Hobhouse‘s experience and would urgently raise the issue with Chinese authorities. He stated that unjustified restrictions on freedom of movement can only serve to further undermine Hong Kong’s international reputation.
Lammy added that it would be unacceptable for an MP to be denied entry for simply expressing their views as a parliamentarian. China has previously banned several British MPs from entering the country, including Ipac members Sir Iain Duncan Smith and Nusrat Ghani, and former security minister Tom Tugendhat.
Background and Context
Hobhouse is a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (Ipac), which monitors and scrutinises Beijing. She has previously spoken out against the Chinese government‘s abuse of human rights in Tibet and crackdown on freedom of speech in Hong Kong.
The incident highlights concerns about the erosion of Hong Kong’s rule of law and the treatment of foreign nationals, including British MPs, in the city. Agence France-Presse has contacted the Hong Kong government for comment.
Hong Kong's rule of law is based on the British common law system, which emphasizes the independence of the judiciary and the protection of individual rights.
The city's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, enshrines these principles and guarantees a high degree of autonomy.
The rule of law in Hong Kong is underpinned by a strong legal framework, with an independent judiciary and a robust system of checks and balances.
This has fostered a business-friendly environment, attracting foreign investment and making Hong Kong one of the world's leading financial centers.
- theguardian.com | Outcry after British MP refused entry to Hong Kong
