“Jimmy Lai being locked up is a source of national shame, really.” The UK’s current approach to China has once again come into focus.

After repeatedly delaying a decision on China’s proposed mega-embassy in London, the UK government is approaching another deadline for an announcement. At the same time, amid a growing anti-immigration climate, the government is planning to tighten the BN(O) settlement route. Against a backdrop of transnational repression, human rights concerns and policy inconsistency, what pressures are Hong Kongers in the UK now facing?

In this episode of Let’s Talk, we speak with Liberal Democrat MP Bobby Dean, examining the UK’s approach to China and Hong Kong from Parliament to local communities — and how these decisions directly affect the safety, trust and future of Hong Kongers living in Britain.

Key topics in this episode include:

▌Is the UK preparing to approve China’s mega-embassy in London?

▌Jimmy Lai’s continued imprisonment described as a deeply troubling human rights issue

▌Transnational repression and fear within the Hong Kong community in the UK

▌Local efforts to help convert Hong Kong professional qualifications for UK recognition

▌Whether the five-year BN(O) settlement pathway remains reliable

▌Whether a “grandfather clause” could become a government concession

▌Can parliamentary debate and political pressure still bring about real change?

▌The UK’s legal obligations to Hong Kong