December 5, 2024 – Today, the British parliament hosted a debate on British nationals arbitrarily detained overseas that spotlighted the case of Jimmy Lai. 

Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP led a discussion of British citizens detained abroad at risk of human rights abuses and called on the UK government to work harder to secure Jimmy Lai’s release, as well as that of other British nationals held hostage overseas. 

Duncan Smith said Jimmy Lai’s case is “emblematic of the crackdown on media, civil society, and the rule of law in in Hong Kong,” before reiterating that even the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention found that Jimmy Lai is unlawfully and arbitrarily detained in Hong Kong and should be immediately released.

“This is a brave man. A prisoner of conscience who could have fled Hong Kong after the Sino-British agreement was trashed but instead chose to stay and set the example for the many who could not flee,” Duncan Smith said. 

John Wittingdale MP called attention to the collapse of press freedom in Hong Kong and noted the pressure on Jimmy Lai’s health as a result of his solitary confinement, before pledging to continue to work with the government to obtain his release.  

Jim Shannon MP commended Jimmy Lai’s advocacy on behalf of press freedom and condemned his detention under Beijing’s draconian national security law. “His willingness to stay in Hong Kong despite escalating provocation and persecution speaks volumes to his commitment to the principles he holds dear,” he said. Shannon also criticised the Chinese and Hong Kong governments for denying Jimmy Lai his right to religious freedom by forbidding him the Eucharist.  

In response, foreign minister Hamish Falconer MP said, “We will introduce a special envoy for complex consular cases, in part because we have heard from families about their experiences of seeking foreign office support. We will also introduce a new right to consular assistance for UK citizens detained abroad.” Jimmy Lai’s case remains a priority for the government and the Hong Kong authorities should immediately release him, Falconer added.

The debate, which involved more than 20 legislators from all parties, demonstrated cross-party support for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) to do more to assist British citizens detained abroad. In addition to Jimmy Lai, the cases raised included those of Jagtar Singh Johal, Ryan Cornelius, Mehran Raoof, Sadik Duraku, and Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu.

Mark Sabah, Director at the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation said: 

“The fact that Jimmy Lai still sits in jail in Hong Kong despite seeing hostages and detained individuals from other countries being released shows just how poor the efforts of the FCDO have been in successfully securing the release of British citizens detained abroad. We applaud all the MPs who took part in this important debate and for keeping this issue at the top of the agenda. However, it’s high time for words to end and action to begin. The British government must bring Jimmy Lai home, along with all other wrongfully detained British citizens.”