Huawei bosses refuse to discuss Hong Kong

HUAWEI executives yesterday refused to comment on the row with China over Hong Kong just moments after insisting that the company’s UK leaders were free to express their opinions.

Jeremy Thompson, a vice-president of Huawei UK, told MPS yesterday that its management team was “just like any other UK organisation”.

However, asked whether he had a view on Beijing’s national security law, he declined to comment. “OK, I am a telecoms executive ... I don’t have a view,” he told the Commons science and technology committee. “I am here representing Huawei, and Huawei doesn’t get involved in judging the rules of different countries.”

When the same question was put to Victor Zhang, his fellow vice-president, he replied: “As a company we are not in a position to comment on that political agenda.” Pressed on whether he could give his opinion, he added: “Yes I can, but not at this hearing, because I’m the vice-president of Huawei. I could share my opinion probably offline with you.”

Dr Yao Wenbing, vice-president of business development, said: “I don’t think my personal view is of interest to this public hearing.”

It comes amid a growing row between the Government and China over the imposition of the national security law in Hong Kong.

In response, Boris Johnson has offered around three million Hong Kong citizens eligible for passports the right to live in the UK.

Labour MP Graham Stringer claimed it “simply isn’t credible that if China wanted Huawei to do something you would have the ability to resist that”.

His comments follow concerns over China’s national intelligence law, which requires all domestic companies to share information with Beijing if requested.