ReutersSir Keir Starmer has said securing the release of pro-democracy campaigner and British citizen Jimmy Lai from Hong Kong prison is the government’s “top priority”.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative leader Rishi Sunak asked whether Lai’s imprisonment violated the 1984 treaty that transferred power in Hong Kong from Britain to China.
The prime minister agreed it was a breach and said the government would “continue” to raise the case with China.
Lai was arrested in 2020 for fraud and participating in protests and, after delays, is now facing trial for sedition and collusion with foreign forces.
The 76-year-old has pleaded not guilty but faces life in prison if convicted.
Jimmy Lai founded the now-defunct Apple Daily and participated in Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protests.
Down 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration China agreed that Hong Kong would enjoy a “high degree of autonomy” and retain certain rights including freedom of assembly and expression.
Over time, however, China has tightened its control over the former British colony and passed a national security law in 2020, making it easier to suppress protests.
Jimmy Lai’s lawyers have been critical of the British government’s involvement in the case.
“We have been told Jimmy Lai’s case is a priority for the government. So why has the Foreign Secretary failed to meet with us and his son Sebastian, despite our repeated requests?” she told The Times on Tuesday.
Gallagher said that of the past five foreign secretaries, only David Cameron had met with Lai’s legal team.
“This is a disappointing and flawed approach that hinders critical efforts to free Jimmy Lai and fundamentally undermines the government’s official position that Jimmy Lai must be released,” she said.
Pressed by Sunak on the case, Sir Keir said: “We do call on the Hong Kong authorities to release our British nationals immediately.
He added: “The Foreign Secretary raised this issue in his first meeting with his Chinese counterpart and we will continue to do so.”
British Foreign Secretary David Lamy is expected to visit China this week.
Sunak also used Prime Minister’s Questions to ask Sir Keir about the implementation of the Foreign Influence Register scheme.
In 2023, the Conservative government set out a plan to force people working for foreign powers or institutions to declare their lobbying activities.
This is partly due to growing concerns about China’s covert activities in the UK.
The scheme was due to come into effect this year, but the Home Office has confirmed it is “no longer expected”.
Sunak said MI5 described the plan as “necessary” and asked why the Prime Minister had “stopped” implementing it.
Sir Keir simply replied: “That’s not correct.”
Sunak responded: “The government has made that clear. I urge him to speed up the resolution of this issue so that the plan can be implemented.”
The prime minister’s spokesman later told reporters the plan would “strengthen national security” and that work to implement it was “under way”.
Sunak also criticized the government Stop implementation He said the bill would help “protect universities” from Chinese political influence.
The Prime Minister said he knew “first hand” the work done by the security and intelligence services and that the government “supports everything they do”.
