The prime minister was asked during a BBC interview and at his press conference in Rio de Janeiro to respond to the jailing of the activists, but he reiterated the importance of building bridges with China for the sake of economic growth.
He was condemned by the former Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith, who has been sanctioned by Beijing, saying Starmer and his government were "so desperate for trade they will turn a blind eye to all future atrocities".
Those jailed are among 47 people, known as the Hong Kong 47, who were charged in 2021 under the national security law.
This story is from the November 20, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the November 20, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
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