Sutton and Cheam

Pledge

I pledge to support Hongkongers

• in their pursuit of freedom and democracy;

• in their settlement and integration in the UK, including the existing BN(O) visa programme and support for Hongkonger asylum seekers facing political repression, and;

• in the exercise of their civic rights and freedoms, free from repression, in Britain.

Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrats): Signed

Statement

Chrishni Reshekaron (Labour Party):

I understand the needs of Hongkongers who have migrated to the UK since my family fled our home country of Sri Lanka. I support Hongkongers - in their pursuit of freedom and democracy, in their settlement and integration in the UK.

While I am glad the UK visa scheme exists, more must be done to support recent migrants from Hong Kong in the UK, including finding job opportunities and other aspects of settling into a new country. For several years Labour has consistently been calling for the UK Government to step up and call for concrete measures to push back on the Chinese Government's aggressive encroachment of Hong Kong's sovereignty.

Labour have led calls for the expansion of the British National (Overseas) visa scheme to include a pathway to citizenship and have called for the scheme to be opened to younger Hongkongers not previously eligible.

I am aware of the incredible contribution Hongkongers are already making to their communities, including in Sutton and Cheam. I look forward to working with the Hong Kong community in future.

Policy questionnaire

1. Tackling transnational repression by the Chinese and Hong Kong governments

Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrats):

The Liberal Democrats recognise China as a threat to the UK, something the Conservative Government has failed to do. This extends to our moral and legal duty to protect our nationals, including BN(O) Hong Kongers. We will accept the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament’s recommendations to safeguard our national interests against hostile action of China.

2. Sanctioning Chinese and Hong Kong government officials responsible for human rights abuses

Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrats):

The UK government should impose Magnitsky-style sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials who have any part in the oppression in Hong Kong. The UK should also take China to the International Court of Justice for its failure to uphold its part of the treaty.

3. Shutting down Confucius Institutes in the UK

Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrats):

The UK government needs to audit the funding and special interest of the Confucius Institutes still operating in the UK as a first step. If they are found to be countenance to the national interests of the UK, then legal proceedings should be brought against them.

4. Assisting Hong Kong immigrants in retrieving their Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF)

Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrats):

As British Nationals, I believe the government should use all legal and diplomatic means to support the Hong Kongers in retrieving the fruit of their labour in the form of Mandatory Provident Fund.

5. Assisting Hong Kong immigrants in finding jobs commensurate with their work experience

Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrats):

I have had casework from residents in Sutton and Cheam where Hong Kongers have had challenges getting their qualifications recognised in the UK. If the qualifications of Hong Kongers become transferable, it will benefit greatly both the Hong Konger community and the UK society by allowing new arrivals to support themselves and contribute their skills and experience to our economy.

This is also an issue with children’s school exam results being transferrable, and recognised by local schools, this is an issue that we need to be taking action on to reduce the challenges faced by new arrivals to our communities.

6. Improving NHS services and reducing crimes in local communities

Luke Taylor (Liberal Democrats):

We would like to boost the number of GPs nationally by 8,000. Half by recruitment and half by retaining experienced GPs.

We believe that local police forces are best able to determine recruitment and manning. But in general, we believe that there should be more Police Community Support Officers (PCSO) to take policing into the communities. What we can do to help the local police forces is to help their workload by setting up a new national Online Crime Agency to deal with internet crimes and better fund the National Crime Agency to deal with serious and organised crimes.

You can see a full list of all the candidates for the Sutton and Cheam constituency here.

Last updated: 2/7/2024