Australian senator hits back at Beijing’s criticism after Canberra allows in fugitive former Hong Kong lawmaker Ted Hui

James Paterson, chair of the country’s security and intelligence committee, says immigration policy is a ‘purely domestic sovereign issue’ for Australia

China had previously accused Canberra of meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs after Covid-19 restrictions were waived to allow Hui to enter on a tourist visa

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Former lawmaker from Hong Kong's pro-democracy opposition Ted Hui speaks to the media as he leaves the Western Police Station in Hong Kong on November 18, 2020, following his arrest in connection with throwing foul-smelling objects inside the city's legislature earlier this year. (Photo by Anthony WALLACE / AFP)

Published: 7:10pm, 11 Mar 2021Updated: 7:10pm, 11 Mar 2021

An influential Australian senator has hit back at Beijing for accusing Canberra of meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs by allowing fugitive ex-lawmaker Ted Hui Chi-fung to enter the country.

James Paterson, who chairs the powerful parliamentary security and intelligence committee, on Thursday said immigration policy was a solely a domestic matter for Australia after China blasted Canberra’s decision to accept Hui, a Hongkonger who fled to Europe in December while facing a raft of charges related to the 2019 anti-government protests in the city.

“What we regard as a purely domestic sovereign issue for Australia, our immigration policies and which visitors we choose to welcome or not, the Chinese government … regards as interfering in its domestic affairs,” Paterson said in an interview with public broadcaster the ABC.

“I have to say, to put it politely, that’s a fairly expansive definition [and] a fairly extraterritorial definition of domestic affairs,” he said. “Why should the Australian government hand over control of its immigration policy to any foreign government, the Chinese government included?”

In a statement on Wednesday, the Chinese embassy in Australia urged Canberra “to stop meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs and China’s internal affairs in any way”.

“Otherwise the China-Australia relations will only sustain further damage,” the embassy said.

Paterson, who is considered among the most hawkish voices on China in the Australian parliament, said Hui would be welcome to campaign for democracy in Hong Kong while in Australia, while “other visitors that have a different view to him are welcome to put their arguments too”.