Summon Chinese ambassador over Hong Kong entry ban, British MPs urge David Cameron

British MPs called on Prime Minister David Cameron to summon China's UK ambassador on Wednesday following Beijing's refusal to allow them to visit Hong Kong.

The lawmakers claimed the British government's response had been too weak when Beijing's deputy ambassador to London said members of an inquiry into post-handover relations would not be permitted to enter the city last month amid pro-democracy protests.

"The British government should react more strongly to this unprecedented and overtly confrontational act, including by summoning the Chinese ambassador to the [Foreign and Commonwealth Office]," said House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee chairman Richard Ottaway.

On November 28, China's deputy ambassador to Britain, Ni Jian, told Ottaway the delegation would not be granted entry to Hong Kong, adding that Beijing did not want to send the wrong message to Occupy protesters.

British nationals do not require a visa to visit Hong Kong.

 

A three-hour emergency debate on the travel ban was held in the British parliament on December 2, but the committee viewed this as insufficient. "The Chinese government's decision to prevent the Foreign Affairs Committee entering Hong Kong is an insult to the House of Commons and the UK as a whole," Ottaway said. "We do not think the FCO's response has gone far enough."