Boris Johnson urged to ensure ‘crisis in Hong Kong’ is high up on G7 agenda next week, with Xinjiang also among possible topics
- A group of ex-British foreign ministers urge Boris Johnson to rally international action over Beijing’s Hong Kong actions
- China expected to feature heavily at next week’s G7 leaders’ summit, which will take place in Cornwall, England
“In the last few months, Beijing has arrested 47 pro-democracy activists and lawmakers under the national security law for the ‘crime’ of holding democratic primaries, introduced changes to Hong Kong’s electoral system to prevent pro-democracy parties from standing, and passed an immigration bill which will allow for the introduction of ‘exit bans’,” read the letter signed by a group of former Conservative and Labour ministers.
“As the human rights situation in Hong Kong continues to deteriorate, we hope you will personally recognise the pronounced need for international leadership from the UK government on this matter,” it continued.
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The letter was signed by the former Labour foreign ministers David Owen, Margaret Beckett, Jack Straw and David Miliband, as well as the Conservatives Malcolm Rifkind and William Hague.