Campaigners are calling for an investigation into whether UK-produced tear gas and riot control equipment have been used against pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong.
The Campaign Against Arms Trade (Caat) called on the government to declare an end to all arms sales and training of Hong Kong police in the wake of the brutal police crackdown on protests against the imposition of Chinese security laws in the former British colony.
The Department for International Trade said no export licences have been issued for crowd control equipment for Hong Kong since a statement by then-foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt in June last year raising British concerns about the treatment of demonstrators. No such licences are currently in place.
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Freedom of information releases have shown that the England and Wales College of Policing provided training and support to Hong Kong law and order forces as recently as last year.
And information compiled by Caat showed that the UK has licensed at least £9.5m worth of arms exports to Hong Kong since an earlier crackdown saw British-made tear gas used on pro-democracy campaigners in 2014.
Export licences have been granted for the supply of small arms, CS gas, body armour and helmets to Hong Kong authorities over this period.
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An anti-extradition bill protester is detained by riot police during skirmishes between the police and protesters outside Mong Kok police station, 2 September, 2019
Photos by Reuters
2/20
Police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at anti-extradition bill protesters during clashes in the Sham Shui Po district of Hong Kong, 14 August, 2019
Reuters
3/20
A pro-China demonstrator films herself as an anti-government protester holds up a sign on her phone during skirmishes between the two opposing groups at Yuen Long station in Hong Kong, China, 12 September, 2019. The words on the phone read, “Seek an official reassessment of the June 4 crackdown,” referring to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests
Reuters
4/20
A man sprays paint over the Regional Emblem of Hong Kong after anti-extradition bill protesters stormed the Legislative Council Complex on the 22nd anniversary of the handover from British to Chinese rule, destroying pictures and daubing walls with graffiti on 1 July, 2019
Reuters
5/20
An anti-government protester, who later identified himself as a university student, is chased by riot policemen after skirmishes at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on 12 November, 2019
Reuters
6/20
Hundreds of thousands protesters march through the streets of Hong Kong, demanding for it’s leaders to step down and withdraw the proposed extradition bill on 16 June, 2019
Reuters
7/20
A masked anti-government protester, wielding a hammer, attacks a man who bystanders suspected of being a pro-Beijing activist from mainland China, during a protest in the Mong Kok area in Hong Kong on 11 November, 2019. The bloodied man, who suffered major facial and head trauma, was reported to have survived his injuries by local media
Reuters
8/20
Passengers push their luggage past bricks and barriers after anti-government protesters blocked the roads leading to Hong Kong International Airport on 1 September, 2019
Reuters
9/20
Mall security personnel urges caution as he tries to extinguish a burning Christmas tree at the Festival Walk mall in Kowloon Tong on 12 November, 2019. The property suffered damage after anti-government protesters stormed the shopping centre
Reuters
10/20
A woman looks out from the window of a residence as tens of thousands of demonstrators march through Hong Kong on 20 October, 2019, demanding autonomy and for its leaders to step down weeks after the formal withdrawal of an extradition bill
Reuters
11/20
Hundreds of anti-government protesters gather after climbing to the peak of Lion Rock as a lighted sign is held high in the air, in Hong Kong on 13 September, 2019
Reuters
12/20
A child sits in carrier wearing a mask as anti-government protesters hold hands to form a human chain in a sign of solidarity in Kowloon Bay on 30 November, 2019
Reuters
13/20
Anti-government protesters are detained during skirmishes between the police and protesters in Admiralty district, Hong Kong on 29 September, 2019
Reuters
14/20
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam pauses while holding a news conference in Hong Kong on 27 August, 2019. On September 4, Lam announced the formal withdrawal of the extradition bill
Reuters
15/20
Anti-extradition bill protesters use slingshots to hurl bricks as they clash with riot police during a demonstration to demand democracy and political reforms, in the market town of Tsuen Wan, located in Hong Kong on 25 August, 2019
Reuters
16/20
Customers cautiously exit an eyeglass store past a burning molotov cocktail as demonstrators clash with riot policemen during a march billed as a global “emergency call” for autonomy, in Hong Kong on 2 November, 2019
Reuters
17/20
Demonstrators protesting the proposed extradition bill aim their flashlights towards riot police as they are chased through the streets of Hong Kong on 25 August, 2019
Reuters
18/20
A restaurant worker receives help from volunteers as patrons cover their faces after riot police fired tear gas nearby to disperse anti-government protesters taking part in a march billed as a global “emergency call” for autonomy, in Hong Kong on 2 November, 2019
Reuters
19/20
Anti-government protesters stand in a cloud of tear gas unleashed during a stand off with riot police at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, in Hong Kong on 12 November, 2019
Reuters
20/20
A man clears debris following the clashes between police and anti-government protester after a two week campus siege of the Polytechnic University in Hong Kong on 16 November, 2019
Reuters
1/20
An anti-extradition bill protester is detained by riot police during skirmishes between the police and protesters outside Mong Kok police station, 2 September, 2019
Photos by Reuters
2/20
Police fire tear gas and rubber bullets at anti-extradition bill protesters during clashes in the Sham Shui Po district of Hong Kong, 14 August, 2019
Reuters
3/20
A pro-China demonstrator films herself as an anti-government protester holds up a sign on her phone during skirmishes between the two opposing groups at Yuen Long station in Hong Kong, China, 12 September, 2019. The words on the phone read, “Seek an official reassessment of the June 4 crackdown,” referring to the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests
Reuters
4/20
A man sprays paint over the Regional Emblem of Hong Kong after anti-extradition bill protesters stormed the Legislative Council Complex on the 22nd anniversary of the handover from British to Chinese rule, destroying pictures and daubing walls with graffiti on 1 July, 2019
Reuters
5/20
An anti-government protester, who later identified himself as a university student, is chased by riot policemen after skirmishes at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on 12 November, 2019
Reuters
6/20
Hundreds of thousands protesters march through the streets of Hong Kong, demanding for it’s leaders to step down and withdraw the proposed extradition bill on 16 June, 2019
Reuters
7/20
A masked anti-government protester, wielding a hammer, attacks a man who bystanders suspected of being a pro-Beijing activist from mainland China, during a protest in the Mong Kok area in Hong Kong on 11 November, 2019. The bloodied man, who suffered major facial and head trauma, was reported to have survived his injuries by local media
Reuters
8/20
Passengers push their luggage past bricks and barriers after anti-government protesters blocked the roads leading to Hong Kong International Airport on 1 September, 2019
Reuters
9/20
Mall security personnel urges caution as he tries to extinguish a burning Christmas tree at the Festival Walk mall in Kowloon Tong on 12 November, 2019. The property suffered damage after anti-government protesters stormed the shopping centre
Reuters
10/20
A woman looks out from the window of a residence as tens of thousands of demonstrators march through Hong Kong on 20 October, 2019, demanding autonomy and for its leaders to step down weeks after the formal withdrawal of an extradition bill
Reuters
11/20
Hundreds of anti-government protesters gather after climbing to the peak of Lion Rock as a lighted sign is held high in the air, in Hong Kong on 13 September, 2019
Reuters
12/20
A child sits in carrier wearing a mask as anti-government protesters hold hands to form a human chain in a sign of solidarity in Kowloon Bay on 30 November, 2019
Reuters
13/20
Anti-government protesters are detained during skirmishes between the police and protesters in Admiralty district, Hong Kong on 29 September, 2019
Reuters
14/20
Hong Kong’s Chief Executive Carrie Lam pauses while holding a news conference in Hong Kong on 27 August, 2019. On September 4, Lam announced the formal withdrawal of the extradition bill
Reuters
15/20
Anti-extradition bill protesters use slingshots to hurl bricks as they clash with riot police during a demonstration to demand democracy and political reforms, in the market town of Tsuen Wan, located in Hong Kong on 25 August, 2019
Reuters
16/20
Customers cautiously exit an eyeglass store past a burning molotov cocktail as demonstrators clash with riot policemen during a march billed as a global “emergency call” for autonomy, in Hong Kong on 2 November, 2019
Reuters
17/20
Demonstrators protesting the proposed extradition bill aim their flashlights towards riot police as they are chased through the streets of Hong Kong on 25 August, 2019
Reuters
18/20
A restaurant worker receives help from volunteers as patrons cover their faces after riot police fired tear gas nearby to disperse anti-government protesters taking part in a march billed as a global “emergency call” for autonomy, in Hong Kong on 2 November, 2019
Reuters
19/20
Anti-government protesters stand in a cloud of tear gas unleashed during a stand off with riot police at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, in Hong Kong on 12 November, 2019
Reuters
20/20
A man clears debris following the clashes between police and anti-government protester after a two week campus siege of the Polytechnic University in Hong Kong on 16 November, 2019
Reuters
But the total is likely to be even higher, as 13 open licences have also been granted, allowing the unlimited transfer of ammunition, tear gas, small arms and crowd control munitions such as rubber bullets during specified periods.
Official policy on arms sales states that the government will not approve them “if there is a clear risk that the items might be used for internal repression”.
Andrew Smith of Caat said: “The images we have seen from Hong Kong have been appalling. The use of tear gas and rubber bullets must be condemned in the strongest terms.
“There are big questions about the role of UK-made weapons in the repression. UK-made tear gas has been used against campaigners in Hong Kong before, and there is a strong possibility that it is being used again. Tear gas can be deadly and should never have been sold in the first place.”
