25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong

That this House recognises today as the 25th anniversary of the handover of Hong Kong to China; laments that Hong Kongers are suffering from the collapse of the rule of law, an unchecked government, repression, erosion of freedoms, and destruction of civil society, despite their hope for continued peace, prosperity and freedom; recalls that, as part of the handover in 1997, the Chinese government promised the people of Hong Kong universal suffrage, a high degree of autonomy, and a commitment that their way of life would remain unchanged for fifty years; regrets that these promises—enshrined in the 1984 Sino-British Agreement and the subsequent Basic Law—have been repeatedly broken by the Chinese Communist Party; expresses grave concern that the freedoms of the press in Hong Kongs have been greatly diminished; and calls on the UK Government to support the people of Hong Kong, since the safety and freedoms of Hong Kongers—here in the UK, in Hong Kong, and around the world—must be protected, as must democracy.