Bridging the Hong Kong Sanctions Gap: US Leadership vs UK Hesitation

This roundtable will examine the use of Magnitsky-style sanctions as an instrument to promote accountability for human rights abuses in Hong Kong and beyond. It will make the case for why the six Hong Kong officials sanctioned by the U.S. State Department in March 2025 should also face sanctions from the United Kingdom.

The discussion will also explore how the UK can better align its sanctions policy with that of its democratic allies, drawing lessons from U.S. leadership and international efforts towards coordinated action, and address the broader context of UK–China relations, examining how human rights considerations can play a more central role in shaping Britain’s foreign policy towards China and Hong Kong.