Rugby’s MP Mark Pawsey spoke in the Westminster Hall debate last week on the ongoing troubles in Hong Kong.
The protests started in September as a result of concerns at China’s position on the nomination of a new Chief Executive for Hong Kong.
Mark has a personal interest in the ongoing situation as his daughter Victoria has lived in Hong Kong since 2010.
After the debate Mark said:
“My daughter is one of approximately 34,000 Britons living and working in Hong Kong and as such I have been following the situation and was interested to speak in the debate.”
Mark added:
“Having studied the process by which Hong Kong would be returned to China it seemed that there was a pretty effective agreement in place after the handover in 1999 which offered the best of both worlds to the Chinese Government and to Hong Kong residents. Hong Kong became a special administrative region which retained its free market economy and other freedoms and this agreement was broadly intended to last for 50 years after the transfer.”
Mark concluded:
“Since the protests began I have looked carefully at the news from Hong Kong and have been pleased that they have remained largely peaceful but it is, of course, still very concerning. My hope is that concessions can be made to ensure the democratic rights we would expect are protected in Hong Kong which will help to resolve the situation. I hope that our Government can help bring this about and that a sense of normality can soon return to the area.”