Britain will 'keep an open mind' in probe of Hong Kong political reform
Undeterred by warnings from Beijing, British lawmakers will press ahead with an inquiry into post-handover Hong Kong and will visit the city with an "open mind" seeking to meet people from all shades of politics.
Undeterred by warnings from Beijing, British lawmakers will press ahead with an inquiry into post-handover Hong Kong and will visit the city with an "open mind" seeking to meet people from all shades of politics.
Richard Ottaway, chairman of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, told the Sunday Morning Post: "We are planning to come in December and I have no reason to think that we won't be there."
The British lawmakers launched their inquiry in July to examine the implementation of the Joint Declaration, which states Hong Kong should have a high degree of autonomy and executive power and that personal rights must be enshrined by law.
The inquiry would welcome evidence from all interested parties, Ottaway said.
"We want [to meet] those in favour of the argument, those against, those who want to put a different angle on things and I very much hope the Hong Kong government will also give evidence to us," Ottaway said. "If we have something from them, it will be of great interest to us."