Catherine West, a founding patron of “Hong Kong Watch,” was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Indo-Pacific at UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office following Labour’s victory in the July 2024 general election. In her first interview with Hong Kong media since taking office, West spoke cautiously and deliberately. In an exclusive interview with Green Bean Media, she discussed the MPF issue that concerns Hongkongers in the UK, emphasising that the British government remains actively engaged with HSBC and Standard Chartered to try to get MPF funds released.

West also acknowledged the presence of transnational repression in the UK and stated that the government is closely monitoring suspicious activities, particularly those involving countries like China and Iran. Reflecting on her recent visit to Hong Kong, she shared her witness of the city’s irrevocable changes and reaffirmed the UK government’s support for Jimmy Lai, stating, “We have his back.”

💬 Transnational repression – Catherine West and Nathan Law share concerns about being surveilled.

💬 Closing the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in London?

💬 Continuing efforts with HSBC and Standard Chartered to release MPF funds for Hongkongers in the UK.

💬 British citizen Jimmy Lai – “We have his back.”

💬 Low-key visit to Hong Kong – Witnessing irrevocable changes.

💬 Judicial resignations – Meeting Jonathan Sumption, who noted Hong Kong’s shift toward totalitarianism.

💬 UK-China relations – Having economic ties, upholding UK values, and ensuring citizen safety.

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About the Guest Host: Stephen Vines is a recovering journalist, writer and broadcaster who based in Hong Kong for 35 years and is now getting to grips with the strangely pleasant land called Britain. His Substack post is updated weekly – https://stephenvines.substack.com/

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