Hongkongers silenced

sir – You report (August 28) that the Chinese Communist Party’s puppet regime in Hong Kong is curtailing international coverage of its draconian actions by restricting journalists’ access. This demonstrates the authorities’ will to censor coverage of the crimes they and their police are committing. It is a way to hide from international scrutiny, make Hongkongers feel isolated, and induce fear.

The United Nations Secretarygeneral António Guterres has said that “we’ve come a long way towards realising freedom of expression, and other fundamental freedoms. The right to access information is entrenched in law in over 100 countries”. Those laws include Hong Kong’s Basic Law and the Sino-british Joint Declaration on Hong Kong. Hong Kong’s leaders should refresh their memories of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on freedom of expression, to which China is a signatory.

To strip Hong Kong of its journalists denies Hongkongers their voice and darkens a window through which the world can see their distress. We cannot let press freedom be stripped from a country likened to a war zone.

China, take note – the world is watching and will stand with Hong Kong in its fight for freedom.

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle (Green)

Co-chair, All-party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong

Alistair Carmichael MP (Lib Dem)

Co-chair, All-party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong

Lord Alton of Liverpool (Crossbench)

Vice Chair, All-party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong

Bob Seely MP (Con)

Vice Chair, All-party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong

Lord Shinkwin (Con)

Vice Chair, All-party Parliamentary Group on Hong Kong

Stewart Mcdonald MP (SNP)

SNP Spokesperson for Defence