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Use of weapons during protests in Hong Kong and the UK Government's response

EDM (Early Day Motion) 684: tabled on 07 July 2020

Tabled in the 2019-21 session.

This motion has been signed by 14 Members. It has not yet had any amendments submitted.

Motion text

That this House is profoundly concerned that tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and baton rounds have been used against even peaceful protestors in Hong Kong; notes that some of these items are included in the UK Strategic Export Control List; is concerned by the sale and export of such equipment from the UK to the Hong Kong authorities who are increasingly showing a willingness to encourage and condone police violence and political intervention by the Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong’s affairs; notes that protestors and bystanders, as well as those providing humanitarian assistance, have been injured by the inappropriate use of such equipment; is concerned that the China-controlled regime in Hong Kong may have breached international human rights laws in the use of such equipment; notes that China is proposing to remove the independence of the judiciary in Hong Kong through the new national security law; notes that the proposed national security law of Hong Kong would breach the Sino-British Joint Declaration; calls on the Government to reconsider permitting the export of such equipment to Hong Kong; and calls on the Foreign Secretary to introduce a Magnitsky-style sanctions regimes to target those who sanction and cause such abuses, including the Chief Executive of Hong Kong and its senior police officers.