PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Higher Education: Hong Kong (24 January 2022)

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department has made representations to universities in the UK that have (a) awarded honorary doctorates and (b) otherwise honoured members of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government in the context of its role in the Government-acknowledged ongoing breach of the Sino-British Declaration in Hong Kong.

Asked by:
Sir Iain Duncan Smith (Conservative)

The department has not made representations to universities in the UK in the context as described. It is for universities as autonomous institutions to make their own judgement calls, in line with our laws. We continue to recommend that university due diligence processes, including regarding appointments, should consider reputational, ethical and security risks.

Answered by:
Michelle Donelan (Conservative)
28 January 2022