On Tuesday 14 July, Hong Kong Watch Patron Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle spoke in the second reading of the Cyber Security and Resilience Bill in the House of Lords, raising the need for the ‘transnational repression amendment’ voted down in the House of Commons last month to be reintroduced in the House of Lords. The speech anticipates the reintroduction of the amendment at Committee stage by Hong Kong Watch Patron and Chair of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, Lord Alton of Liverpool.
The amendment would prevent the UK from sharing private information with overseas authorities in jurisdictions where the right to a fair trial cannot be guaranteed, including China and Hong Kong. It provides a crucial protection for at-risk individuals in the Hong Kong diaspora, as well as others targeted by the Beijing and Hong Kong authorities.
The amendment now has another chance to be adopted into law. If the amendment is adopted by the Lords, the Bill will return to the House of Commons. Any differences between the Commons and Lords versions of the Bill will then be negotiated between the two Houses (referred to as the ‘ping pong’ stage), until a final text is agreed.
Hong Kong Watch, together with other organisations supporting the amendment, will continue to rally support for the transnational repression amendment in the House of Lords and any subsequent negotiations during the ping pong stage.
This campaign is a collaborative, cross-community effort undertaken by a number of partner organisations. We thank everyone who has supported the campaign so far. Please continue to follow our social media channels for updates on future efforts to support the amendment, oppose information sharing with authoritarian regimes, and protect Hong Kongers and other diaspora groups from transnational repression.