Alistair Carmichael has followed the lead stamped out by our late leader, Paddy Ashdown, in calling on the government to do more than offer conditional half-promises to Hong Kongers who want to take up UK citizenship. China's reaction, like her ready recourse to violence against protesters, has been over the top.
China may have control of the territory, but not the souls of those brought up under British liberal democracy. Even those born after the Union Flag was hauled down are entitled to the rights granted to them under the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
It is regrettable that protesters have met violence with violence and I believe as well as fighting for Hong Kongers' civil rights, the UK should be reminding them of their responsibilities too. It could be that violence is being fomented by the United States, as is alleged by Chinese ministers. It would certainly be in the interests of US financial institutions to see perpetual disruption in Hong Kong, reducing the influence of the territory and its big international banks. So far, HSBC and Standard Chartered have restated their commitment, but Nomura has already decided to reduce its presence, albeit as part of a cost-cutting exercise.
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