15 December 2025
The Rt Hon Keir Starmer MP,
Prime Minister
10 Downing Street
London SW1A 2A
Dear Prime Minister,
Today, British citizen Jimmy Lai has been found guilty in his trial in Hong Kong, on two national
security law charges of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and a charge of conspiracy to
publish seditious material. He faces a sentence of up to life imprisonment. He has been
imprisoned for 1,800 days, most of which in solitary confinement. He is 78 years old and in
failing health. Unless he is released, he will almost certainly die in prison.
The time for ‘raising concerns’ about these matters is past. Australia, Canada, and Ireland have
all secured the release of detained or imprisoned citizens from China. The United Kingdom must
show similar willingness to stand up for wrongfully prosecuted British citizens. This is
particularly the case where, under the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, the United Kingdom
has an international treaty obligation to guarantee rights and freedoms in Hong Kong – rights
that have been repeatedly violated in the case of Jimmy Lai.
If and when you visit the People’s Republic of China in the New Year, as reported in the press,
any trade deal or economic concession offered to Beijing must be contingent upon the release of
Jimmy Lai. The UK government must be prepared to demonstrate that it will not sacrifice the
freedom of its citizens in order to receive vague assurances and promises of trade and investment
in return.
If Beijing is serious about acting as a responsible business partner in its relations with the United
Kingdom, the release of Jimmy Lai should be a reasonable show of good faith. If not, it
demonstrates the disregard with which this authoritarian regime treats the citizens of the United
Kingdom and serves as a sharp warning of the risks involved in courting closer ties.
We, the undersigned, trust that you will sincerely commit to doing everything in your power to
free Jimmy Lai and let him reunite with his family.
Yours sincerely,
Hong Kong Watch
Fight for Freedom, Stand With Hong Kong
Hongkongers in Britain
The Rights Practice
Index on Censorship
World Uyghur Congress
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
Nottingham Stands with Hong Kong
Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Birmingham HongKongers
Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation
Hong Kongers in Leeds
Re-Water
Assembly of Citizens’ Representatives, Hong Kong (ACRHK)
The Hong Kong Scots
Scottish Hongkongers
Hong Kong Society in Scotland
Britons in Hong Kong
Fortify Rights
Democracy for Hong Kong (D4HK)
Bonham Tree Aid
Sutton Hongkong Culture and Arts Society
Independent Committee for Hong Kong Advocacy (ICHKA)
Reading UK Stands with Hong Kong
Hong Kong Aid
Hong Kong Democracy Council (HKDC)
Human Rights in China
International Tibet Network
The European Hong Kong Diaspora Alliance
Safeguard Defenders
Network of Chinese Human Rights Defenders (CHRD)
English PEN
PEN International