CLD Emergency motion - BNO right of abode

Due to the current political situations in Hong Kong, we Chinese Liberal Democrats are about to submit an emergency motion for debate at the autumn party conference 2019.

The motion reads as:

Motion on Hongkong and Rights of British Nationals (Overseas)

Drafted on behalf of Chinese Liberal Democrats 24.8.19

Conference Notes that:

1. The human rights of Hong Kong (HK) citizens have deteriorated following the peaceful protests in June/July and a city-wide strike in August this year. The HK police used excessive force including use of tear gas and plastic bullets to suppress the protests, and many civilians were beaten up and arrested by the police. The activists continue to be at risk of being charged with causing riots.
   
   
2. The HK Government has shown no intention of accepting the 5 points demanded by the protesters on 2^{nd July.} Chief amongst these is the withdrawal of the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance ("Extradition Bill") which would allow alleged criminals under Chinese law to be arrested and extradited from HK to the Peoples Republic of China. In addition, they call for the HK Government to uphold the terms of the Basic Law (HK's Constitution), retract the description of the movement as a riot, the setting up an independent commission to investigate the police's actions and the resignation of the Chief Executive, Ms Carrie Lam.

Conference believes that:

The Chinese Government by dismissing the Sino-British Joint Declaration signed in 1984 as a historical document, has put the human rights of the HK people at risk. Several senior party figures, including the late Lord Paddy Ashdown and Sir Ed Davey MP, have endorsed the campaign on giving HK's British Nationals (Overseas) ("BNO") passport holders the right of abode in the UK thereby protecting their fundamental human rights.

Conference calls for:

1. The UK Government to abide by its treaty obligations towards HK under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and guaranteeing HK people's lifestyles, rights and freedoms (including freedom of expression, right to assembly and to a fair trial under the HK judicial system) would be protected under the Basic Law and "one country, two systems".
2. A new liberal democrat policy for all HK BNO holders to be given right of abode in the UK.