Lord Sharpe of Epsom, the Home Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL8430):
Question by Lord ALTON of Liverpool :
To ask His Majesty’s Government, following the recent alleged assault on Hong Kong protestors by Chinese activists in Southampton, what assessment they have made of the provisions in place to protect people from Hong Kong who have moved to the UK from (1) physical, and (2) non-physical, intimidation from mainland Chinese individuals and groups. (HL8430)
Tabled on: 13 June 2023
Answer:
Lord Sharpe of Epsom:
It would not be appropriate to comment on individual cases. As you would expect, we continually assess potential threats in the UK, and take protection of individuals’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously.
Through our world class police forces and the agencies that work with them, we take a proactive approach to protecting individuals and communities from all manner of threats. All at-risk communities should remain alert but not alarmed, and report incidents or suspicious activity through to the Police.
Home Office officials work closely with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office and the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities, as well as other government departments, to ensure that the UK is a safe and welcoming place for both those who hold BN(O) (British National Overseas) status and other Hongkongers.
In April 2021, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities launched the UK-wide Welcome Programme to support BN(O) status holders.
The Programme includes:
- funding for local authorities in England to provide English language and destitution support,
- establishing 12 virtual Welcome Hubs across the UK,
- funding for organisations to deliver UK-wide and regional projects,
- a comprehensive Welcome Pack on GOV.UK which advises new arrivals on how to settle into life in the UK.
More widely, The Security Minister is leading work to protect the democratic integrity of the UK from foreign interference through the Government’s Defending Democracy Taskforce. A key priority for the Taskforce is to review the UK’s approach to transnational repression (foreign interference in communities) to ensure we have a robust and joined up response across government and law enforcement. Further, the National Security Bill, now in its final stages, represents the biggest overhaul of state threats legislation in a generation, and will drastically improve our tools to deal with the full range of state threat activity. The Bill contains provisions that will leave those seeking to coerce, including through threats of violence, for, or with the intention to benefit, a foreign state liable to prosecution in a way that they currently are not.
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Lord Sharpe of Epsom, the Home Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL8428):
Question by Lord ALTON of Liverpool :
To ask His Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of reports of an alleged assault on Hong Kong protestors in Southampton by Chinese activists. (HL8428)
Tabled on: 13 June 2023
Answer:
Lord Sharpe of Epsom:
Hampshire police are investigating these allegations, it would therefore be inappropriate to comment further on this specific case.
Freedom of expression is fundamental to who we are as a country. We do not tolerate attempts to silence, intimidate or harm those speaking truth to power.
Date and time of answer: 27 Jun 2023 at 11:46.
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Lord Sharpe of Epsom, the Home Office, has provided the following answer to your written parliamentary question (HL8429):
Question by Lord ALTON of Liverpool :
To ask His Majesty’s Government whether they will publish the outcome of the investigation by Hampshire Police into the alleged assault on Hong Kong protestors by Chinese activists on Sunday 11 June. (HL8429)
Tabled on: 13 June 2023
Answer:
Lord Sharpe of Epsom:
These are extremely serious allegations which Hampshire Police are investigating. It would be inappropriate, at this stage, for me to comment further on an ongoing police investigation.
Freedom of expression is fundamental to who we are as a country. We do not tolerate attempts to silence, intimidate or harm those speaking truth to power.
As you would expect, Home Office officials work closely with the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, and the Department for Levelling Up Housing and Communities, as well as other government departments, to ensure that the UK is a safe and welcoming place for both those who hold BN(O) status and other Hongkongers.
I urge anyone who is concerned for their safety to contact the police.
Date and time of answer: 27 Jun 2023 at 11:45.
Date and time of answer: 27 Jun 2023 at 15:59.
