• British MP Wera Hobhouse denied entry to Hong Kong on personal trip.
• Foreign Secretary David Lammy demands explanation from Hong Kong and Chinese authorities.
• This incident marks the first refusal of a British MP's entry since 1997.
• Hobhouse cited her criticisms of China as a possible reason for the denial.
• The refusal coincides with UK ministers visiting China to enhance trade relations.

Wera Hobhouse, a British MP, was denied entry to Hong Kong during a trip intended to visit her newborn grandson, making her the first British parliamentarian to face such an incident since the territory was handed back to China in 1997. Upon her arrival, she was questioned by authorities at Hong Kong International Airport, had her passport confiscated, and was subsequently sent back to the UK without any explanation, as reported by South China Morning Post.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed his deep concern about the denial, stating, "It is deeply concerning to hear that an MP on a personal trip has been refused entry to Hong Kong." He confirmed that the UK government would urgently raise the issue with Hong Kong and Beijing to demand an explanation, as stated in an article by Reuters.

The Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), of which Hobhouse is a member, stated that her refusal of entry is likely connected to her criticisms of Beijing’s handling of human rights issues. Hobhouse commented on social media, highlighting the incident as an "insult to all parliamentarians," according to information from TRT World.

Additionally, this refusal occurred coinciding with the visit of UK ministers to Hong Kong focused on trade and investment, which the IPAC noted as a significant affront. They emphasized that the situation showcases the increasing tension between the UK and China, particularly over human rights, as conveyed by South China Morning Post.