Wera Hobhouse, the Liberal Democrat Member of Parliament for Bath, was denied entry to Hong Kong last month during a private visit to see her son and newborn grandson. Despite her repeated requests, she has yet to receive any official explanation for the decision, raising significant concerns about potential political blacklisting aimed at silencing critics of China’s human rights record.
Addressing the issue during Prime Minister’s Questions on May 21, Hobhouse urged the Prime Minister to secure assurances that British parliamentarians will not be barred from entering Hong Kong due to their stance on human rights. “In the absence of any explanation, this appears to be part of a covert blacklist intended to silence MPs speaking out against human rights abuses by the Chinese government,” she stated. “This is an attack on all of us.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer expressed his deep concern over Hobhouse’s treatment, condemning the denial of entry for UK citizens—especially elected officials—simply for holding and expressing their views. “This is unacceptable and threatens Hong Kong’s international standing and our bilateral relationship,” he said. Starmer confirmed that government ministers, including the Foreign Secretary, have repeatedly raised the matter with officials in China and Hong Kong.
READ MORE: Loneliness-Fighting Tea Party Group Celebrates 50 Years with Warm Tribute
READ MORE: Former Somerset Primary School Site Approved for New Homes and Offices
Hobhouse, a member of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (Ipac), recounted her experience in an interview with the BBC earlier this month. Upon arrival in Hong Kong, she was detained for five hours, interrogated, and ultimately sent back on a return flight, while her husband was allowed entry. Authorities initially said only that she would be asked a few questions and did not provide any reasons for the denial. Hobhouse believes the move was designed to “shut me up and to silence me,” emphasizing that she was merely standing up for British values.
The Hong Kong government has declined to comment specifically on Hobhouse’s case, but stated that immigration officers are empowered to question visitors about the purpose of their trips. A spokesperson warned that failing to answer such questions could harm a visitor’s case, though Hobhouse and her party have firmly disputed this, insisting she fully cooperated.
The incident has prompted strong responses from UK officials. Trade Minister Douglas Alexander reportedly raised “deep concern” with senior Hong Kong officials during his recent visit. Foreign Secretary David Lammy pledged to seek urgent clarification, while Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called for the Chinese ambassador to be summoned and issued a stern warning: “The Chinese government cannot be allowed to undermine our democracy by intimidating our parliamentarians.”
Hobhouse expressed gratitude for the wide-ranging political support she has received. She highlighted the broader implications of the incident, saying, “It is chilling that authoritarian regimes can treat us with such disregard. The diplomatic norms that safeguard free movement of elected officials seem to be breaking down.”