I was touched to be invited to Reading Hongkongers' annual vigil to commemorate the Tiananmen Square massacre. I was pleased to say a few words.
Here is my speech
Hi, I’m Pauline Jorgensen, the Conservative candidate in the 2024 General Election, Conservative parliamentary spokesperson for Earley and Woodley and leader of the Conservative Group at Wokingham Borough Council.
Thank you for inviting me to speak briefly today.
The memory of the massacre by the Chinese Government of peaceful, pro democracy, protesters in Tiananmen Square in the spring of 1989 and the military crackdown which followed resonates throughout the ages, the national candle lit vigil in Hong Kong was banned by the National security law. Vigils such as this serve as an act of remembrance and solidarity, and I am proud to be here.
The Conservative Party has a history of standing up for the people of Hong Kong. As Boris Johnson said in 2019, we support Hongkongers every inch of the way. We have deep ties with Hong Kong, and those bonds remain strong.
I am deeply concerned by the ongoing crackdowns by the Chinese government on basic freedoms and human rights in Hong Kong — including the continued imprisonment of British citizen Jimmy Lai, the imprisonment of journalists in Hong Kong and threats against Hongkongers in the UK, including overseas arrest warrants and bounties, and sanctions against British parliamentarians for simply speaking out. This is not right.
Since 2021, over half a million people have left Hong Kong. Thanks to the Conservative government’s British National (Overseas) scheme, more than 230,000 visas have been issued — and around 180,000 Hongkongers have made the UK their home to add to the 135,000 already here.
I was part of the executive team at Wokingham Borough Council when we offered a safe haven to those fleeing Hong Kong, and I continue to support the community today.
I signed the Hong Kong pledge, and at the GE candidates’ forum, I reaffirmed my support for Hongkongers in the UK and for democracy in both Hong Kong and Taiwan.
As a councillor, I’ll keep doing what I can to support our Hong Kong community. I’ve asked Wokingham Borough Council to explicitly include Hong Kong groups in consultations on accessing services. I raised your concerns and proposed a motion to provide additional English language courses for Hong Kongers.
If there are other problems you’re facing, I’m always happy to help however I can.
