Simon Cheng is among a group of overseas pro-democracy activists that have reportedly had £100,000 bounties for their arrest placed on them by the Beijing-backed Hong Kong security police.
More than 150,000 Hong Kongers have come to the UK since 2020 after China launched a crackdown under its national security law (NSL) which has led to the arrests of protesters, activists, and notable pro-democracy figures such as Jimmy Lai and Joshua Wong.
Rachel Reeves listens during the 11th China – UK Economy and Finance Dialogue in Beijing. (Photo by Aaron Favila / POOL / AFP)
Mr Cheng, founder of Hong Kongers in Britain, urged the Government to ensure human rights abuses were central in its engagement with China “not sidelined for economic considerations”.
“While economic cooperation with China may be necessary, it must not come at the cost of empowering an increasingly authoritarian regime,” he told The i Paper.
“The UK must work with international partners to reduce economic dependency on China, creating a more balanced global trade environment.
“This mission should serve as a clear reminder to the new Labour government that complacency is no longer an option.
Mr Cheng is among Hong Kong dissidents in the UK who believe they have been followed and harassed by suspected pro-Beijing informants and activists recruited to monitor them.
A pro-democracy protester is detained by riot police during an anti-government rally on 24 May 2020 in Hong Kong (Photo: Anthony Kwan/Getty Images)In 2021, the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation after a £10,000 bounty was offered on WeChat for Mr Cheng address.
When asked by reporters in Beijing if closer ties to China carried any risk for the UK, Ms Reeves said: “We need to make sure we have a pragmatic and good relationship with countries around the world. That is in our national interest.
The Treasury said Ms Reeves had explicitly raised the case of British national and pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, who has been detained in Hong Kong since 2020.
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Read More“The sadness is that in opposition, Labour were strong on China, very forward thinking,” he said.
“They were pushing the Government to recognise that. Now. we’re seeing them fail to even mention these sorts of concerns and then try to push for deeper bilateral relations with China.
The Government has been approached for comment.
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