Tag: China

Bishop of St Albans asks about risks of Chinese state investment in UK businessnes

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 20th September 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the purchase of UK businesses by funds owned by the state of China; and what safeguards exist to protect national security in this situation.

Baroness Neville-Rolfe (Con, Cabinet Office): As an open economy, the government welcomes foreign trade and investment, including from China, where it supports growth and jobs in the UK, meets our stringent legal and regulatory requirements, and does not compromise our national security.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about humanitarian conditions in China

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 19th September 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government how many (1) asylum, or (2) humanitarian protection, visas were granted to people from China in (a) 2019, (b) 2020, (c) 2021, and (d) 2022.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about treatment of UK-based Hong-Kong activist Nathan Law and his family

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 4th September 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the Hong Kong police raid on the family of the UK-based Hong Kong activist, Nathan Law, on 11 June; and what, if any, representations they have made to the government of Hong Kong regarding this incident.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about extradition from the UK

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 4th September 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what, if any, extradition arrangements exist between the UK and (1) the People’s Republic of China, and (2) the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

Lord Sharpe of Epsom (Con, Home Office): The UK does not have a bilateral extradition treaty with the People’s Republic of China. The Foreign Secretary made a statement in the House of Commons in July 2020 on the status of the UK-Hong Kong Extradition Treaty, confirming its indefinite suspension.

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Bishop of Exeter asks about importance of upholding human rights in international relations

On 6th July 2023, the Bishop of Exeter asked a question on the importance of supporting and upholding human rights during an exchange on the status of pro-democracy activists in China and Hong Kong:

The Lord Bishop of Exeter: My Lords, I thank the Minister for his answers, but does he not agree that this case is yet further evidence for the revisionist tendencies of the Chinese Government when it comes to human rights? This tendency will only intensify as China tries to use its economic and political muscle to mute its critics, so does it not underscore the importance of His Majesty’s Government working tirelessly to revive the spirit of universality that originally inspired the human rights project in upholding core rights and freedoms?

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Bishop of St Albans asks about support for freedom of the press in China

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 26th June 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support journalists and the free press in China, particularly Xinjiang province.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about British citizen imprisoned in China

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 17th March 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to (1) the government of China, and (2) the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, about British citizen Jimmy Lai.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about links between Chinese surveillance companies and human rights abuses

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 7th February 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what recent assessment they have made of the Chinese surveillance companies (1) Dahua, and (2) Hikvision; what assessment they have made of any links between those companies and human rights abuses in the Xinjiang province; and what assessment they have made of whether they constitute a security threat to the UK.

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Bishop of St Albans asks about government response to China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Somalia

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answer on 31st January 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to the government of Somalia regarding their involvement in China’s Belt and Road initiative.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park (Con): China is a significant partner for many countries, including through the Belt and Road Initiative. The Somali Government pursues its international trading, development and political relations as it chooses. The UK’s focus is on working closely with the Somali Government to support its ambitious programme for a more stable and peaceful Somalia. This includes the provision of humanitarian relief and crucial support for the fight against Al-Shabaab.

Hansard

Bishop of St Albans asks about Chinese activities in Hong Kong and in the Horn of Africa

The Bishop of St Albans received the following written answers on 25th January 2023:

The Lord Bishop of St Albans asked His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications of China’s Belt and Road Initiative on countries in the Horn of Africa.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon (Con): China is an important source of aid, finance and investment for many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, including in the Horn of Africa. This includes activity under the Belt and Road Initiative. We are working with partners including the G7 to ensure low and middle income countries have an alternative to strategic dependence on China or any other country. The UK offers wide-ranging partnerships to African countries that support a freer, safer, healthier, greener and more prosperous continent. Through British Investment Partnerships, we are providing honest, reliable investment that creates jobs, boosts economic growth and draws countries closer to major free-market democracies.

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