Conservative Party member tells Post city now needs ‘serious advocacy’
A British activist barred from entering Hong Kong is to spearhead a group scrutinising the city’s affairs despite Beijing formally complaining to the UK of interference in its internal matters.
As a political row grew between Britain and China, human rights campaigner Benedict Rogers confirmed to the Post on Thursday he would found a group to report on the city’s progress on human rights, democracy and freedoms. On Wednesday, Rogers was turned away from Hong Kong.
The decision to bar the deputy chairman of the UK Conservative Party’s human rights commission triggered a “concerned” response from the British Foreign Office. It also prompted an explanation from Hong Kong’s leader and criticism from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying on Thursday said “the Chinese side has lodged solemn representations with the UK” in response to the concerns raised by the British government.
Beijing runs Hong Kong’s foreign affairs, says Lam, after British politician barred
Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor declined to reveal why Rogers was refused entry to the city.
“I can’t reveal the details,” she said when asked if Beijing made the decision .
“ But under the Basic Law [Hong Kong’s mini-constitution], the central government is responsible for foreign affairs. I hope that everyone can understand that.”
Immigration Department officers at the airport on Wednesday refused Rogers entry and put him on a plane back to Thailand, where he had just come from, and onwards to London.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticised external interference and said Rogers knew “well enough” of his intentions to meddle in the rule of law and internal affairs of Hong Kong.
