When will Britain stand up for abused Hongkongers?

Further to your report (Hong Kong activists jailed over Tiananmen vigil in crackdown, online) it is clear that, at the bidding of its political masters in Beijing, the quisling regime in Hong Kong is determined to publicly punish those who dare to keep the memory of China’s massacre of student protesters in Tiananmen alive.

This is yet another chilling demonstration of how the Beijing-imposed national security law is wielded against Hong Kong’s beleaguered civil society. Doubtless, this latest crackdown on Hong Kong activists and ex-lawmakers was timed to coincide with the forthcoming anniversary of the foundation of the People’s Republic of China.

Condemnations alone are not enough. How much more abuse will authorities inflict before Britain, the guarantor of Hong Kong’s autonomy, takes decisive action and sanctions Chinese officials guilty of rolling back rights and freedoms in Hong Kong?

The thin-skinned regime in Beijing may try to eradicate the memory of its deadly repression in Tiananmen, just as it has tried to airbrush the horrific consequences of the murderous Cultural Revolution from history. But as we stand with those brave Hongkongers – including many courageous young people now languishing in prison and who have sacrificed their freedom – we must never forget the price that has been paid or the infamies which have occurred.

For the sake of those whose freedoms have been destroyed, the British government should now impose Magnitsky sanctions on those responsible.

Lord Alton of Liverpool vice chair of the APPG on Hong Kong

Ministry of No Talents

Governments used to aspire to forming a Ministry of All the Talents. Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle – which includes promoting the witless Nadine Dorries to culture secretary and keeping Sajid “You only get Covid from strangers” Javid as health secretary – shows we are now in the era of a Ministry of No Talents.

Sasha Simic London

Another empty slogan

Does “levelling up” make sense or is it just another empty slogan, like “oven-ready deal”? Imagine the nation’s wealth as a pile of sand and ask yourself: how do you level it up? The answer of course is that it simply can’t be done. You cannot level up. You can increase the base, but only by reducing the top. It’s an oxymoron.

However, this has not deterred Boris Johnson who has decided if he takes away from the bottom – by increasing national insurance contributions that disproportionately affects those at the bottom – all will be well and the pile of sand can float mysteriously in the air, improving the lot of the bottom without affecting the top.

We used to hear his crazy pronouncements dismissed as “it’s only Boris”, but no longer. How does he continue to get away with it? Is it that we realise that his chumocracy has to be funded from somewhere and better the aid budget and low paid than us? It helps explain the government’s culture wars; divide and conquer and protect the elite. Proud to be British under these Tories?

John Simpson

Unsuitable candidate

If Nadine Dorries is suitable for the role of culture secretary, then by virtue of writing this letter I shall henceforth be referred to as a journalist. Robert Boston Kingshill, Kent

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