In a surprising turn of events, a Liberal Democrat MP has expressed her dismay after being denied entry to Hong Kong earlier this week. Wera Hobhouse had flown to the Chinese region in order to visit her newborn grandson, only to find herself detained at the airport, interrogated, and subsequently deported on the next available flight back home. Despite being a part of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, a group that closely scrutinizes Beijing’s human rights practices, Ms. Hobhouse was left puzzled as she received no explanation for the ban.
The incident has sparked outrage among UK officials, with Foreign Secretary David Lammy affirming that they will escalate the matter by seeking clarification from the authorities in Hong Kong and Beijing. He emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that it is unacceptable for a Member of Parliament to be denied entry simply for expressing their opinions as a parliamentarian. In a show of solidarity, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has urged for the Chinese Ambassador to be summoned in light of these troubling events.
According to reports, Ms. Hobhouse was traveling with her husband, who was allowed entry into Hong Kong but opted to accompany her back home. The couple had embarked on the journey to visit their son, who has been residing in Hong Kong since 2019. Sir Ed highlighted the discriminatory nature of the ban, attributing it solely to Ms. Hobhouse’s status as a British MP. This incident follows a similar case involving two Labour MPs who were turned away from Israel while on a visit to the occupied West Bank this month.
As this situation unfolds, questions are being raised regarding the UK government’s relationship with China. Previous sanctions imposed by Beijing on five critical MPs in 2021 have already strained diplomatic ties between the two nations. Ms. Hobhouse’s poignant account of the ordeal underscores the emotional toll of being separated from her grandson, with the lack of explanation being particularly distressing. The foreign secretary has expressed deep concern over the incident, emphasizing that unwarranted restrictions on freedom of movement could tarnish Hong Kong’s standing on the global stage. The Chinese Embassy has yet to provide a statement on the matter
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