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| Hong Kong: MPs get emergency debate on Chinese rebuff | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Commons Speaker John Bercow has granted an emergency debate about China's decision to bar a committee of MPs from visiting Hong Kong. | |
| The Foreign Affairs Committee has been told it cannot make a planned trip to the ex-UK colony, which has seen months of pro-democracy protests. | The Foreign Affairs Committee has been told it cannot make a planned trip to the ex-UK colony, which has seen months of pro-democracy protests. |
| Requesting a debate, committee chairman Sir Richard Ottaway said the refusal was an "affront to this House and to men and women of the free world". | |
| The debate will be held on Tuesday. | |
| Emergency debates are rare in the House of Commons. They can last for three hours and take precedence over all other business. | |
| Downing Street has said China was "mistaken" to bar the committee from visiting Hong Kong, describing the rebuff as "counter-productive". | |
| No 10 said the move "amplified" concerns about the situation there. | No 10 said the move "amplified" concerns about the situation there. |
| Beijing has accused the committee of "interfering" in China's internal affairs, amid continuing tensions in Hong Kong. | Beijing has accused the committee of "interfering" in China's internal affairs, amid continuing tensions in Hong Kong. |
| Joint Declaration | Joint Declaration |
| Police in Hong Kong clashed with demonstrators on Monday, briefly shutting down government offices - the latest showdown between the authorities and protesters seeking political reforms, including elections free from interference by Beijing. | |
| Sir Richard sought Commons Speaker John Bercow's approval for an urgent debate on the matter on Monday evening. | |
| After listening to the MP's concerns, Mr Bercow said he was satisfied that the matter should be debated by the House. | |
| Since July, the Westminster committee has been examining relations between the UK and its former colony, 30 years on from the signing of the Joint Declaration between the UK and China in 1984. | Since July, the Westminster committee has been examining relations between the UK and its former colony, 30 years on from the signing of the Joint Declaration between the UK and China in 1984. |
| This landmark agreement approved the transfer of sovereignty to China and set out a "one country, two systems" principle of governance for Hong Kong under Chinese rule. | This landmark agreement approved the transfer of sovereignty to China and set out a "one country, two systems" principle of governance for Hong Kong under Chinese rule. |
| Sir Richard said he was told on Friday by the Chinese embassy in London that he and his colleagues could not visit Hong Kong as part of the inquiry, describing the refusal as "an affront to free men and women" around the world. | Sir Richard said he was told on Friday by the Chinese embassy in London that he and his colleagues could not visit Hong Kong as part of the inquiry, describing the refusal as "an affront to free men and women" around the world. |
| Although it has not given details of its proposed itinerary, the committee was due to visit Hong Kong before the end of the year, with most of its 11 members scheduled to go along. | Although it has not given details of its proposed itinerary, the committee was due to visit Hong Kong before the end of the year, with most of its 11 members scheduled to go along. |
| China was wrong to think the committee was "meddling" in its internal affairs, the MP said. | China was wrong to think the committee was "meddling" in its internal affairs, the MP said. |
| "Frankly it is a very regrettable state of affairs," he told the BBC News Channel. "I don't think there is any connection between our visit and the protests. Our inquiry started long before the current wave of protests started." | "Frankly it is a very regrettable state of affairs," he told the BBC News Channel. "I don't think there is any connection between our visit and the protests. Our inquiry started long before the current wave of protests started." |
| 'Real hiccup' | 'Real hiccup' |
| Sir Richard said he and his colleagues would have refrained from making any public comment while there and the visit, far from doing damage, would help in raising understanding of the issues involved and the UK's legitimate interest in Hong Kong's future. | Sir Richard said he and his colleagues would have refrained from making any public comment while there and the visit, far from doing damage, would help in raising understanding of the issues involved and the UK's legitimate interest in Hong Kong's future. |
| "Indeed, it is quite conceivable that our visit would have been helpful," he added. | "Indeed, it is quite conceivable that our visit would have been helpful," he added. |
| "I think it is a huge mistake by China. It also suggests that they do not accept we have any rights under the Joint Declaration. That is profoundly wrong and it is very important we make that point." | "I think it is a huge mistake by China. It also suggests that they do not accept we have any rights under the Joint Declaration. That is profoundly wrong and it is very important we make that point." |
| During his five years at the head of the committee, Sir Richard said it had never been refused entry anywhere because most countries, even those that were not democracies, knew that transparency was vital in the 21st Century. | During his five years at the head of the committee, Sir Richard said it had never been refused entry anywhere because most countries, even those that were not democracies, knew that transparency was vital in the 21st Century. |
| Sir Richard said the issue represented a "real hiccup" in Sino-British relations, which he said had improved since a row in 2012 over a meeting between David Cameron and the Tibetan opposition leader, the Dalai Lama. | Sir Richard said the issue represented a "real hiccup" in Sino-British relations, which he said had improved since a row in 2012 over a meeting between David Cameron and the Tibetan opposition leader, the Dalai Lama. |
| "China is a member of the G20. We work and do a lot together. This is wholly unnecessary and I would like to think they will think again over it." | "China is a member of the G20. We work and do a lot together. This is wholly unnecessary and I would like to think they will think again over it." |
| 'Volatile' | 'Volatile' |
| Downing Street said the committee had visited Hong Kong in the past and "their desire to travel is not new". | Downing Street said the committee had visited Hong Kong in the past and "their desire to travel is not new". |
| "It amplifies concerns rather than diminishes them," a spokesman said of their apparent exclusion from Hong Kong. | "It amplifies concerns rather than diminishes them," a spokesman said of their apparent exclusion from Hong Kong. |
| The Foreign Office said it did not believe there was anything to stop the MPs from visiting Hong Kong as individuals. | The Foreign Office said it did not believe there was anything to stop the MPs from visiting Hong Kong as individuals. |
| Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond raised concerns about the general situation in Hong Kong with his Chinese opposite number last week but Labour said the Foreign Office should be intervening to resolve the "regrettable" dispute. | Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond raised concerns about the general situation in Hong Kong with his Chinese opposite number last week but Labour said the Foreign Office should be intervening to resolve the "regrettable" dispute. |
| "The situation on the ground in Hong Kong remains volatile and tense, and the authorities there must take steps to calm the situation, not further inflame it," shadow minister Kerry McCarthy added. | "The situation on the ground in Hong Kong remains volatile and tense, and the authorities there must take steps to calm the situation, not further inflame it," shadow minister Kerry McCarthy added. |
| The Chinese authorities condemned the committee's inquiry when it was announced, saying it was a "highly inappropriate act which constitutes interference in China's internal affairs". | The Chinese authorities condemned the committee's inquiry when it was announced, saying it was a "highly inappropriate act which constitutes interference in China's internal affairs". |
| A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman was quoted by the Xinhua news agency on Monday as saying the "so-called" British delegation had been told several times that it would not be allowed into Hong Kong. | A Foreign Ministry spokeswoman was quoted by the Xinhua news agency on Monday as saying the "so-called" British delegation had been told several times that it would not be allowed into Hong Kong. |
| "The door is always open to those who are committed to enhancing Sino-British ties. Meanwhile, we firmly oppose and will never allow anyone to interfere in our internal affairs," she said. | "The door is always open to those who are committed to enhancing Sino-British ties. Meanwhile, we firmly oppose and will never allow anyone to interfere in our internal affairs," she said. |