Britain’s Home Secretary Priti Patel met with self-exiled Hong Kong activists for the first time on Wednesday, as she vowed to stand by Hongkongers and protect their freedoms.Patel is also the first British cabinet minister to meet former Hong Kong lawmaker Nathan Law, after he fled to the United Kingdom in July. Beatrice Li, the sister of activist Andy Li who has been detained in Shenzhen after a failed escape to Taiwan at sea, was also present alongside members of the British non-governmental organization Hong Kong Watch, its co-founder Benedict Rogers and fellow Luke de Pulford.

“The United Kingdom will stand by the people of Hong Kong and keep our promise to protect and uphold their freedoms,” Patel said in a statement.

Law, who is wanted by mainland Chinese authorities after the enactment of the national security law in Hong Kong, said the scheme for British National (Overseas) passport holders to settle in the country “means a lot to Hong Kong people who had tasted freedom but gradually losing it.””It helps them to live free from political persecution,” Law said. “I am very grateful to the Home Secretary Priti Patel for her effort in crafting this policy and we had a constructive dialogue about it.”Andy Li sent a letter to his family from the Shenzhen detention center last month to warn his sister to stop her activism. The letter was “clearly written against his will,” Beatrice Li said at the time. Beatrice Li said it would give her brother — who conducted international lobbying before he was arrested —  some comfort to know that she was at the meeting with Patel. “He, like many Hong Kong people, has sacrificed their freedom and possibly lives to raise awareness about what is happening to our home,” she said. “We thank the Home Secretary, and hope that the UK will do more in the face of the total destruction of our way of life.”Shaun Bailey, Conservative Candidate for London Mayor, hosted the session. He was impressed by the bravery and courage of young Hongkongers, he said.

“I want Hong Kong citizens to know that if they come to London, they’ll be welcomed with open arms,” he said.

The Hong Kong government “strongly deplored” and expressed discontent over the display of the city’s flag at the session with “anti-government Hong Kong people with no official roles.” It was “yet another provocation” after the recent sixth-monthly report on Hong Kong issued by London, the government said.

The U.K. promised to not give BN(O) holders the right of abode in a memorandum under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, the Hong Kong government said. The country violated its international duty by ignoring historical fact and conducted political manipulation with human rights and freedoms as excuses, it added.

Click here for Chinese version

---------------------------------

Apple Daily’s all-new English Edition is now available on the mobile app: bit.ly/2yMMfQE

To download the latest version,

iOS: bit.ly/AD_iOS

Android: bit.ly/AD_android

Or search Appledaily in App Store or Google Play