British Foreign Affairs Committee to be refused entry to Hong Kong - call for Emergency Debate

The Chinese Embassy has informed the Foreign Affairs Select Committee of the UK Parliament that they will be refused entry if they attempt to visit Hong Kong as part of their Parliamentary Inquiry.

The Foreign Affairs Committee plan to visit Hong Kong later this year as part of an ongoing inquiry into The UK’s relations with Hong Kong now that thirty years have passed since the Joint Declaration. The Chinese Government have, in past weeks and months, registered their opposition to the Inquiry.

Chairman of the Committee, Sir Richard Ottaway MP, says “I have been informed by the Chinese Embassy that if we attempt to travel to Hong Kong we will be refused entry. We are a Committee of elected Members of Parliament from a democratic nation who wish to scrutinise British diplomatic work in Hong Kong. The Chinese Government are acting in an overtly confrontational manner in refusing us access to do our job. I shall be asking the Speaker tomorrow to grant an Emergency Debate on the floor of the House."

FURTHER INFORMATION:
http://www.parliament.uk/facom