UK Demands Explanation After MP Wera Hobhouse Denied Entry to Hong Kong

The UK government has voiced serious concerns after Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse was denied entry to Hong Kong, where she had traveled to visit her newborn grandson. The unexpected deportation has triggered diplomatic tension and drawn criticism from across the British political spectrum.

Hobhouse, 65, who represents Bath in Parliament, arrived at Hong Kong International Airport on Thursday. She was detained for five hours, questioned about her occupation and travel purpose, and then put on a return flight to London. Her passport was confiscated, her luggage searched and swabbed, and she was escorted to the departure gate by four immigration officers.

Her husband, William Hobhouse, who accompanied her, was permitted entry but chose to return with her to the UK.

The UK Foreign Office has called the incident “deeply concerning” and is demanding a formal explanation from Chinese and Hong Kong authorities.
“We are greatly concerned. If Wera has been denied access purely for being a British MP, that is unacceptable and will be treated seriously.”

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said he intends to raise the issue directly with officials in Beijing and Hong Kong.

Political Context and Possible Motive

Though no official reason was provided for her deportation, Hobhouse and other MPs believe it is linked to her political role and membership in the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC)—a global network of lawmakers critical of China’s human rights record.

IPAC members, including Iain Duncan Smith, Nusrat Ghani, and Tom Tugendhat, have previously faced travel bans by China. Hobhouse appears to be the first British MP refused entry to Hong Kong since its 1997 handover from the UK to China.

In a joint statement, fellow IPAC-affiliated MPs called on the UK government and Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle to take a strong stance:

“Detaining and deporting a sitting MP for their views sets a dangerous precedent. It is an affront to parliamentary democracy and personal freedom.”

Diplomatic Timing Raises Eyebrows

The incident comes at a sensitive time, as UK government ministers are actively engaging with Chinese officials to bolster trade and investment ties. Critics say allowing such a diplomatic affront during official visits undermines the UK’s credibility.

“This is not just a personal injustice—it’s a challenge to democratic values,” said Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, urging an urgent meeting between Hobhouse and the Foreign Secretary, and demanding that the Chinese Ambassador be summoned.

Emotional Toll on the MP

Hobhouse expressed emotional anguish at being prevented from meeting her three-month-old grandson.

“I didn’t cry, but I was very close to tears,” she said in an interview. “I had been so careful to ensure my politics didn’t interfere with this family visit.”

Despite being a moderate critic of the Chinese Communist Party, she believes her affiliation with IPAC may have been the reason for her deportation.