China threat to ‘disrespectful’ UK politicians over Hong Kong

CHINA has threatened MPs and peers to stop being ‘disrespectful’ over Hong kong – or face the ‘consequences’.

Leung Chun-ying, former head of the Hong kong government, warned senior politicians who had spoken out about the protests to stop spreading ‘false statements’ and to take a more ‘positive and respectful tone’.

In a chilling letter, he said: ‘We seek that the British government lowers its tone with regards to false statements that inflames protests and riots in Hong kong. The immediate cessation of the liberal agenda would be optimal to ensure future successful relationship with China.’

Mr Leung, also known as CY Leung, is now vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, China’s top political advisory body.

A loyalist to the Beijing regime, Mr Leung said China hopes for a ‘more positive and respectful tone in the near future’. He said: ‘Should you seek to agitate matters further, the Chinese government will elaborate further with regards to future consequences.’

The warning comes after 11 weeks of clashes between activists and police in Hong kong – a former British-ruled territory – which have sparked tensions between China and Britain.

The protests were sparked by a controversial extradition bill, which has since been suspended. They have now morphed into a broader movement demanding democratic reform and an investigation into alleged police brutality.

Such a direct threat to British parliamentarians by a foreign power is unprecedented and will likely further inflame tensions between the two countries.

One of the letters was sent to Lord David Alton, an independent cross-bench peer, who has said the Uk should guarantee the citizenship of Hong kong people in Commonwealth countries. Tom Tugendhat, chairman of the foreign affairs select committee, said Britain should give Hong kong citizens full Uk nationality as a means of reassurance amid the standoff.

He said this should have happened in 1997 when it was handed back to Chinese control – and that doing so now would reassure Hong kong citizens they were supported by the Uk.

In the letter, signed by CY Leung, politicians were told that extending such rights should have ‘at best, United kingdom foreign office approval and at least a referendum from the British people’. It also noted that Britain had no say in Hong kong affairs.

Mr Leung, who attended university in Bristol, also accused MPs of making ‘ clear defamatory remarks in parliament about topics that they neither have factual information on, nor seek to ascertain the truth’.

Last night, Lord Alton said: ‘These appalling bully-boy letters are insignificant compared to the seismic events of Hong kong, but they plainly reveal the depths to which China’s enforcers are willing to sink to silence criticism. The Uk meanwhile should insist that China has questions to answer. In 40 years in Parliament I have never received a letter like this.’

Twitter suspended more than 200,000 accounts that it believes were part of a state-backed Chinese influence campaign to sow political discord in Hong kong by undermining the protest movement’s legitimacy.

Many accounts pushed tweets depicting protesters as violent criminals. The Chinese government said it was not aware of the allegations.

‘Future consequences’