China ‘lobbying British MPS’ to quell criticism over Hong Kong

THE Chinese government is attempting to lobby British MPS to prevent human rights activists in the UK from criticising its Hong Kong policy, a senior activist has claimed.

Benedict Rodgers, the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, said he was warned by two MPS about Beijing’s alleged lobbying attempts after he wrote an article for the Conservativehome website.

It is understood that the Chinese government may have learned of the article before it was published by monitoring the emails of Mr Rogers’ colleagues in Hong Kong.

In June 2017, one of the MPS, which Mr Rogers wishes not to identify, told him that the Chinese embassy had expressed extreme displeasure about the piece, which discussed the erosion of freedom and autonomy in Hong Kong.

There is no suggestion either MP lobbied Mr Rogers on behalf of the Chinese government, but were instead warning him of what was under way.

The claims were brought to light in written evidence submitted to Parliament’s foreign affairs committee earlier this week.

“I find it astonishing that a major world superpower with so many important issues to discuss would be bothered with me,” Mr Rogers told The Daily Telegraph, before speculating that Beijing had grossly overestimated his influence in British politics.

Mr Rogers said he sent a draft of the article to several pro-democracy activists and experts in Hong Kong for factchecking purposes via email, at which point it may have been intercepted by the Chinese authorities.

According to the committee’s written evidence, in addition to the attempt to lobby him, Mr Rogers has received letters from Hong Kong addresses to his home, and to his mother’s home in Dorset, which sought to intimidate and pressure him.

Of the tip-off from British MPS that China was trying to influence Mr Rogers, it says: “Benedict Rogers, wrote an article for the website Conservativehome.com, about the erosion of freedoms and autonomy in Hong Kong.

“A few days prior to the publication of the article, Mr Rogers received a telephone call from a British Member of Parliament, who informed him that the Chinese embassy had contacted him to indicate that they were aware that Mr Rogers intended to publish an article, were very angry, and urged the MP to encourage Mr Rogers to withdraw the article.”

The Chinese embassy in London did not respond to phone calls and an email requesting a response to the allegations.