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<p>Media freedom is vital to open societies and journalists must be able to investigate
and report without undue interference. We must oppose attempts by any state to restrict
press freedom, silence debate, abuse journalists, or spread misinformation. We are
monitoring individual cases of concern around the world, and we are working with international
partners on how best to support media freedom, including raising our concerns where
appropriate.</p><p>The UK has publicly raised the issue of media freedom in China,
including priority cases such as the sentencing of citizen journalist and rights activist
Huang Qi in 2019. British diplomats have attempted to attend trials of civilian journalists
and rights activists in China to show support.</p><p>In Hong Kong, media freedom is
guaranteed under the Joint Declaration and Basic Law. In our six-monthly reports to
Parliament on Hong Kong, we have regularly highlighted the importance of freedom of
the press and set out our views on specific incidents of concern. We did so in the
most recent report on 11 June. We will continue to raise the need to uphold Hong Kong's
high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms with the Hong Kong and Chinese authorities,
as the Foreign Secretary did with State Councillor and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang
Yi on 8 June.</p><p>We have announced our intention to establish a UK autonomous Global
Human Rights ('Magnitsky-style') sanctions regime. The regulations will come into
force in the coming months. It is not appropriate to confirm who might be designated
under the sanctions regime before the designations are in place. To do this could
reduce the impact of the designations.</p>
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