The author traveled to Hong Kong to visit family and meet a newborn grandson but was denied entry upon arrival by immigration officials. Despite being detained for several hours, no reason was provided for the denial, leading to feelings of anguish and confusion. The author speculates that the entry refusal may be linked to their background as a British parliamentarian and criticism of the Chinese government. This experience highlighted the ongoing challenges to democratic values in the face of rising authoritarianism.
Throughout all this, I felt two overriding emotions: anguish, at not being able to see my family and meet my grandson; and confusion.
The most alarming is that I was denied entry because of my role as a British parliamentarian, and one who has levelled criticism at Beijing for its human rights abuses.
They are values, though, that are under increasing threat. The optimism of the 1990s has been replaced by a belated recognition: that we must renew and protect our values.
I will never forget dancing with friends on the Berlin Wall as it together with the dictatorship that built it crumbled.
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