In his valedictory contribution in the House of Lords on 22nd May 2025, the Bishop of St Albans tabled a question on government efforts to secure the release of Jimmy Lai from Chinese custody:
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty’s Government what recent steps they have taken towards securing the release of Jimmy Lai.
Lord Collins of Highbury (Lab, FCDO): My Lords, British national Jimmy Lai’s case is a priority for this Government. We continue to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and release him. The Foreign Secretary committed in the House of Commons that Ministers would raise Jimmy Lai’s case with the Hong Kong and Chinese officials at every opportunity, and we have been doing so. Our diplomats have attended his trial and continue to press for consular access.
I know the right reverend Prelate will be retiring at the end of the month. I express my gratitude and, I am sure, that of the whole House for all his work.
Noble Lords: Hear, hear.
The Lord Bishop of St Albans: My Lords, I am grateful for noble Lords’ kindness. I am glad to ask my last Question on the welfare of a British citizen whose only crime is to exercise freedoms that this House has long stood for: freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest. He is 77, has diabetes and is being held in solitary confinement, and the next stage of his trial is being delayed until August. This is shameful.
I thank the Minister for what His Majesty’s Government are already doing, but I wonder what consideration is being given to introducing a legal right to consular access to all British citizens being held in detention, and what other discussions he and his colleagues have held with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to see whether it and other international parties can develop an integrated approach to seeking Jimmy Lai’s release.
Lord Collins of Highbury: I am grateful to the right reverend Prelate. We are, as he has pointed out, absolutely committed to strengthening support for British nationals abroad, including by introducing a right to consular assistance in cases of human rights violations. The department is considering a package of measures, which we will announce in due course, alongside options for stakeholder consultations. The FCDO is committed to strengthening support for British nationals overseas, including through the appointment of an envoy for complex detention cases. We will announce further details in due course.
The Church of England in Parliament 
You must be logged in to post a comment.