LettersWhy Britain will continue to speak up for Hong Kong

I was saddened to read Grenville Cross’ article titled “Why Britain’s foreign secretary is no friend to Hong Kong and the rule of law” (December 1).

Cross implies that Dominic Raab, the British foreign secretary, is playing petty party politics. Actually, politicians from across the political spectrum are united in voicing support for the people of Hong Kong. Mr Raab, therefore, has our full backing when he repeatedly reminds the Chinese regime that the draconian Hong Kong national security law is a breach of the Joint Declaration.

In fact, many would like the UK government to extend Magnitsky sanctions to the Communist Party’s cheerleaders, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor. We look forward to the next wave.

In the meantime, we will continue to stand with Hong Kong for one overriding reason: we recognise that Britain, as the mother of parliamentary democracy, has a unique responsibility to speak out in support of fellow pro-democracy lawmakers, especially when they themselves are dismissed for daring to speak out in defence of the freedoms of those whom they were elected to serve.

The UK government has rightly supported those Hongkongers wishing to flee the brutal human rights abuses of the Hong Kong authorities through the British National (Overseas) scheme.