Written questions by Smith.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made representations to his counterparts in the People’s Republic of China on the expulsion of the British press corps from the room in which Xi Jinping and the Prime Minister were meeting in Rio de Janeiro on November 18 2024.

Members of the press were present at the start of the meeting between the Prime Minister and President Xi Jingping on November 18. It is standard practice in diplomatic meetings for the press to remain in the room for opening remarks only, as was the case when the PM met President Biden in September. The subsequent, private, conversation allows space for honest and frank discussion.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to the 1972 Communique on the Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on an Exchange of Ambassadors, whether the Communique’s position that Taiwan is a province of the People's Republic of China remains the position of the Government.

The UK's longstanding position on Taiwan, as set out in the 1972 Communique, has not changed and remains the position of this Government.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will raise the detention in Azerbaijan of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu during COP29 climate conference in November.

I [Minister Doughty] raised the detention of prominent academic Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov during our call on 31 October, and with Presidential Representative Elchin Amirbayov on 29 October. The UK consistently advocates for Dr Ibadoghlu to receive all appropriate medical access and treatment, and for a fair legal process. We will continue to raise his case alongside wider human rights issues of concern.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, with reference to Huawei's press article entitled, Safe Mauritius, the Inspiration for Heaven, published in October 2018, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the security provisions within Mauritius’ telecommunications system; and if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of those provisions on the use of the telecommunications system by his Department's officials.

As previously referenced in the Answer to 10968, this is the subject of an ongoing police investigation in Mauritius, and we are unable to provide further comment. We continue to monitor the situation.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps her Department is taking to (a) ensure that children of British National (Overseas) passport holders (i) born in the UK and (ii) of Hong Kong descent will not be regarded as Chinese nationals by the People's Republic of China and (b) guarantee their protection under UK law.

If you're a British national (overseas), your child is a British citizen if both: they were born in the UK, and you were a British citizen or settled in the UK (had 'indefinite leave to remain') when they were born. The FCDO provides consular assistance to British nationals abroad. In some cases, British Nationals of Hong Kong or Chinese descent may be considered Chinese by the Chinese authorities meaning the consular assistance we can provide may be limited. As per our nationality guidance, we advise seeking legal advice where appropriate for individual cases.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports that the British High Commissioner to Mauritius’ phone conversations were leaked; and if he will review the effectiveness of negotiations on the exercise of sovereignty over the Chagos Archipelago.

The reported event occurred prior to the launch of negotiations in November 2022. This is the subject of an ongoing police investigation in Mauritius, and we are unable to provide further comment.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made recent representations to his Azerbaijani counterpart on the detention of Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu; and if he will take steps to secure his immediate release on humanitarian grounds.

Since Dr Gubad Ibadoghlu's arrest in July 2023, the UK has consistently advocated for the right to a fair legal process and appropriate medical access, including permission for temporary leave from Azerbaijan to receive specialist medical care abroad, if required. The UK has consistently called on the Azerbaijani Government to protect the human rights and freedoms of all its citizens, and we will continue to work to ensure Dr Ibadoghlu's rights are upheld.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether his Department advised postponement of the visit to London of former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.

The UK's longstanding position on Taiwan has not changed. The UK does not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan but a strong unofficial relationship based on deep and growing ties in a wide range of areas and underpinned by shared democratic values.There is a long history of visits between the UK and Taiwan, including many conducted independently of HMG.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make an assessment of the potential implications for his policies of statements on the UK's role in the century of humiliation made by Chinese officials at celebrations at the Chinese Embassy of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the People's Republic of China.

This Government will take a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests.We will carry out an audit of the UK's relationship with China as a bilateral and global actor, to improve our ability to understand and respond to the challenges and opportunities China poses.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 7 October 2024 to Question 5527 on China and Hong Kong: Diplomatic Service, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that Hongkongers who (a) arrived in the UK under the BN(O) scheme and (b) will be naturalised as British citizens are recognised as British nationals by the (i) Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and (ii) Chinese government.

FCDO's Travel Advice for China explains that China does not recognise dual nationality and anyone born in China to a Chinese national parent would be considered by the Chinese authorities to be of Chinese nationality and treated as a Chinese citizen. This advice applies to all British citizens travelling to China including those naturalised under the BN(O) scheme.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will have discussions with his Chinese counterparts on the release of Jimmy Lai during his visit to China in October 2024.

I met with Sebastien Lai and Jimmy Lai’s international legal team on Tuesday 8 October in my capacity as Minister for the Indo-Pacific. The Foreign Secretary raised Jimmy Lai's case in his first meeting with China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the ASEAN Summit on 26 July and his case remains a priority for this Government. We will continue to call on the Hong Kong authorities to end their politically motivated prosecution and immediately release Jimmy Lai. We will continue to press for consular access.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 9 September 2024 to Question 3938 on Ryan Cornelius, what discussions he had with his UAE counterpart on Ryan Cornelius during his visit to UAE on 5 September 2024.

The Foreign Secretary raised the importance of consular issues, although not this specific case, during his visit to the UAE on 5 September and first meeting with Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed. The Foreign Secretary and I fully appreciate the importance and urgency of Mr Cornelius' case, on which I have been briefed in detail by my officials. I look forward to meeting Mr Cornelius' family to discuss the detail of his case and HMG support going forward.

Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has made an estimate of the number of British National (Overseas) visa holders in (a) Hong Kong and (b) China who do not have access to consular protection.

The FCDO and our embassies, high commissions and consulates worldwide provide consular assistance to British nationals abroad. This includes BN(O)s who, under the Memoranda to the Joint Declaration, are eligible for consular assistance in third countries, but not in Hong Kong, Macao or mainland China. It is not possible to give an exact figure of the number of BN(O)s who live in, or travel to, Hong Kong and China, as this information is not captured by the FCDO. There are an estimated 2.9 million people who retain BN(O) nationality.