Nearly 130 UK MPs and lords sign letter seeking Commonwealth solution to Hongkongers’ plight

The letter to the foreign secretary calls on the UK government to help Hong Kong’s residents get second citizenship or rights of abode elsewhere

It stops short of asking for British citizenship to be offered, instead suggesting ‘many Commonwealth countries … may well be willing to assist’

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A British flag is seen during a protest in Hong Kong. Photo: AP

Published: 10:15pm, 9 Sep 2019Updated: 5:24pm, 10 Sep 2019

The UK Conservative Party’s Human Rights Commission has written to British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, in a letter signed by around 130 MPs and lords from all parties, urging him to help Hongkongers find rights of abode elsewhere if they wish to leave the city.

That came as China’s ambassador to the UK warned MPs against making “irresponsible” remarks about Hong Kong.

The letter stopped short however of asking for full British citizenship to be granted to all holders of British National (Overseas) passports, calling on Raab instead to seek support for an “international insurance policy” for the people of Hong Kong at next year’s meeting of Commonwealth heads of government in Rwanda.

The letter called on the UK government to use its influence to rally “international support for an insurance policy for the people of Hong Kong”.

“This ought to consist of second citizenship and a right of abode elsewhere, particularly in light of our shared history,” it read.

“Many Commonwealth countries – which share values currently under siege in Hong Kong – may well be willing to assist in providing such guarantees, especially for those industrious people who turned a city into an economic powerhouse.”

Britain’s Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab. Photo: AFP

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