Press release

Hong Kong protests: Foreign Office statement, 18 April 2020

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office issued a statement following the arrest of a number of political figures in Hong Kong.

This was published under the 2019 to 2022 Johnson Conservative government

A Foreign & Commonwealth Office spokesperson said:

We are concerned about the arrests of a number of political figures in Hong Kong, and are following these cases closely. We expect any arrests and judicial processes to be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

The right to peaceful protest is fundamental to Hong Kong’s way of life and as such is protected in both the Joint Declaration and the Basic Law. It is essential that any protests are conducted peacefully, and that the authorities avoid actions that inflame tensions. The authorities should focus on rebuilding trust through a process of meaningful political dialogue.

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Published 18 April 2020