British foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt urged to discuss Hong Kong human rights concerns with Beijing

Group of UK politicians wants Hunt to raise issues such as proposed ban on separatist party and disqualification of pro-independence lawmakers when he visits China next week

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British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt will travel to Beijing next week. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:17am, 28 Jul 2018Updated: 12:30pm, 28 Jul 2018

On the eve of newly appointed UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt’s visit to China, a group of British politicians have urged him to discuss Hong Kong with the country’s state leaders, citing concerns that pressure on human rights and freedoms in the city have “increased and intensified”.

Former British Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind, ex-leader of the Liberal Democrats Paddy Ashdown, former Liberal Democrat MP David Alton, barrister Geoffrey Nice QC, and Conservative lawmaker Catherine West wrote to Hunt on Wednesday: their letter was published on Friday on the website of Hong Kong Watch.

Hunt will meet Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his trip next week. Photo AFP

Hong Kong Watch, an NGO, was founded by the British activist Benedict Rogers to monitor human rights in the city.

One concern the politicians raised was the police force’s recommendation to ban the Hong Kong National Party for posing a threat to national security through publicly promoting the city’s independence.

Last week, Hong Kong’s security minister said he was considering that recommendation to ban the party under the Societies Ordinance, and gave the organisation and its leader, Andy Chan Ho-tin, until August 7 to convince him otherwise.