On Monday, November 3, Hong Kong Watch together with 24 scattered groups jointly sent a letter to the British Prime Minister, Starmer, urging the UK government to take a tougher stance on national security issues related to China and Hong Kong.
Representing groups including Tibetans, Uighurs, and Hong Kong people, these organizations voiced their concerns.
The letter expressed concerns about the UK government’s current strategy towards China, stating that the strategy overly prioritizes deepening economic relations with (Communist) China, while neglecting national security protection. In particular, issues such as the dropping of charges in the CCP spy case, plans for the CCP to build an embassy in East London, and the Communist China not being included in the “Foreign Influence Registration Scheme” (FIRS) at an enhanced level, all indicate confusion in the UK government’s China strategy. The letter urged the government to take a tougher stance against the security threats posed by the CCP.
The joint letter was based on the cases of two British men, Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry, who were charged with engaging in espionage activities for the CCP but the cases were ultimately dropped. High-ranking government officials including the Attorney General, Cabinet Secretary, and Deputy National Security Adviser were subsequently summoned to testify before the National Security Strategy Joint Committee. Hong Kong Watch stated that the dropping of charges was a major scandal for the UK government, while the government denied intervening in the decision to drop prosecution. However, questions regarding the government’s involvement in the case continue to linger.
Sponsor of Hong Kong Watch and Chairman of the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights, Lord Alton of Liverpool, said: “Earlier this year, when I chaired a cross-border repression investigation by the Joint Committee on Human Rights (although now speaking in a personal capacity), I heard first-hand from young activists in Hong Kong about the threats to their personal safety posed by China (the CCP), including being targeted for abduction. We cannot afford to ignore the national security risks faced by the diaspora communities within the UK. To overlook these risks under the guise of improving economic relations is both irresponsible and untrustworthy.”
The joint letter specifically called on the UK government to take the following actions: include Communist China in an enhanced level of the “Foreign Influence Registration Scheme” and reject the planning application for the CCP to build a super embassy in the Tabernacle area.