Students and journalists speak at UK probe into Hong Kong, CY Leung snubs invite

Hong Kong university students and a former SCMP editor have given testimony to the UK Foreign Affairs Committee about the implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration in the wake of the Umbrella Movement protests. CY Leung was also invited, but reportedly ignored the request.

On Tuesday, Jonathan Fenby, editor-in-chief of the SCMP between 1995 and 2000, spoke to the inquiry, insisting that the Beijing government wishes to maintain control over both Hong Kong’s economy and politics (stating the obvious somewhat there, mate).

He testified that he saw little interference from Beijing directly during his time as the top dog of Hong Kong’s main English-language newspaper, but claimed that local media feel great internal pressure to stay within reasonable boundaries when it comes to criticising the Chinese government. He attributed much of this to the reliance of both the Hong Kong property market and retail sectors on mainlander money.

Shortly after, two Hong Kong students, Hui Sin-tung from HKU and Tang Chi-tak from CUHK, gave their reasons for calling on protestors to stage a sit-in outside the British Consulate in Hong Kong last month.

They explained that they feel China has broken the Sino-British agreement, which was designed to allow Hong Kong 50 years of autonomy from Beijing following the British handover in 1997. They also handed a petition to the British Parliament calling for more decisive action.

Labour Party Chairman Lee Cheuk-yan and Democratic Party Chairwoman Emily Lau are also due to speak to the inquiry via video link tomorrow.

In a revelation that is likely to shock very few, however, Hong Kong Chief Executive CY Leung was invited to put his two cents’ worth into the mix, but refused without giving any reason, according to comments Richard Ottaway, the head of the committee, made in an interview with SCMP.

The UK parliament called an emergency meeting last month after members of the committee were banned from entering Hong Kong on the grounds that their presence would “pour oil over fire” regarding the Occupy Central pro-democracy protests.

The group, which is independent from the UK government, has visited Hong Kong on three previous occasions in 1998, 2000 and 2006, and was welcomed by the chief executive each time.

They must be just desperate for some decent dim sum by now.