• Make a contribution
  • Get the Print Edition
  • Sign up for our daily newsletter
Monday, July 28, 2025
  • Login
Reading Today Online
  • HOME
  • YOUR AREA
    • All
    • Caversham
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Katesgrove
    • Reading
    • Southcote & Coley
    • Tilehurst & Norcot
    • Whitley

    Reading men charged with robbery and weapons offences

    Man jailed after dangerous driving incident in Reading

    Impact on School Transport raised over new licensing policy amid £870k overspend

    Kerbside glass recycling finally set to be introduced in Reading next year

    Proposal to create Greater Reading that would absorb suburban villages debated

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Meet the sponsors – Reading Football Club

    PRIDE OF READING AWARDS: Meet the sponsors – Reading Football Club

    Caversham woman charged in connection with robbery and kidnap incident

    Me2Club urgently appeals for support to continue

    Changes made to Reading council tenancies for first time in nearly 10 years

  • COMMUNITY
  • READING FC
  • SPORT
    • All
    • Basketball
    • Football
    • Rugby

    Reading FC star Knibbs set to make Championship move as fee is agreed

    Reading FC confirm new signing as midfielder joins on permanent deal

    Former Reading FC loanee joins rivals

    Reading FC sign German attacker on permanent deal

    Reading and Chelsea legend Kerry Dixon set for Q&A at Purple Turtle

    Ex-Reading star Ejaria on trial with former Royals manager

    League One side set to win race for former Reading FC young star

    Reading FC opinion: Where are the goals coming from this season?

    Reading FC midfielder Knibbs linked with Championship move

  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
No Result
View All Result
Reading Today Online
No Result
View All Result
Home Opinion

FROM THE OPPOSITION: Supporting our Hong Kong Chinese community

Guest Contributor by Guest Contributor
Monday, June 9, 2025 3:56 am
in Opinion, Politics
A A
Cllr Pauline Jorgensen

Cllr Pauline Jorgensen

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Last weekend I spoke at the annual Hong Kong Tiananmen Square commemoration in Reading.

It was an opportunity to remember those who lost their lives in the Massacre 36 years ago and we heard moving testimonies.

The Conservative Party has a strong history of supporting the people of Hong Kong.

In 2019 former Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said that we support Hong Kongers “every inch of the way”.

In 2020 the Conservative Government launched a visa scheme to enable Hong Kong residents to come to the UK.

At the time the former Prime Minister said, “I am immensely proud that we have brought in this new route for Hong Kong BNOs to live, work and make their home in our country.

Related posts

Reading men charged with robbery and weapons offences

Retail union ‘deeply concerned’ over continued shoplifting rises in Thames Valley

Man jailed after dangerous driving incident in Reading

Impact on School Transport raised over new licensing policy amid £870k overspend

“In doing so we have honoured our profound ties of history and friendship with the people of Hong Kong, and we have stood up for freedom and autonomy – values both the UK and Hong Kong hold dear.”

I am deeply concerned by the ongoing crackdowns by the Beijing Government on basic freedoms and human rights in Hong Kong, particularly the continued imprisonment of the businessman and democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai, a British citizen, threats against Hong Kongers in the UK and sanctions against British Parliamentarians simply for speaking out.

In Wokingham Borough Conservative councillors are committed to supporting people from Hong Kong who have made the daunting decision to move halfway across the world and settle here. Under the previous Conservative administration of Wokingham Borough Council, a healthcare webinar in Cantonese was launched in 2021, designed to provide information on how to navigate local healthcare. This was a finalist for best digital initiative at the Public Health Awards 2023.

At a Council committee meeting I pushed the Council to ensure the Hong Kong Chinese community is consulted about services and that the Council engages with them as it does with other communities that make up our Borough. When speaking with residents from the Hong Kong community one of the topics that has come up is improved access to English Language education which I have also pressed for, this is key to enable all Hong Kongers to play a full part in the community and access council services.

I support democracy and self-determination for Hong Kong.

Sadly, around the world, democracy is often under threat. Here elections whether they be local or national can sometimes seem run of the mill, but it is important that we don’t take hard-won freedoms for granted.

P.S.

Residents continue to tell me they are concerned about the Government’s cuts to winter fuel allowance.

This is an unfair policy. I’ve been campaigning for a reversal of these cuts, including writing to Ministers and MPs, and bringing a motion to Council.

This affects pensioners on an income of more than £11,800, or a joint income of just over £18,000 for a couple.

That’s around half a full-time salary on the minimum wage.

Clearly this policy has affected some of the poorest and most vulnerable in our community.

So far, the Government has announced a partial U-turn but without any details on how many pensioners will have fuel payments reinstated or what the income threshold will be. I will be keeping residents informed of any developments.

I hope the Government will act quickly as this drip of information is causing stress and uncertainty to vulnerable residents.

Keep up to date by signing up for our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people who have requested it.

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

Previous Post

FROM THE LEADER: Help us make Reading greener – sponsor a new tree in your street

Next Post

Reading FC chairman Rob Couhig gives update on season ticket sales

FOLLOW US

POPULAR STORIES

  • Reading FC star Knibbs set to make Championship move as fee is agreed

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Former Reading FC striker Andy Carroll joins new club in England after leaving France

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Masked men armed with weapons rob store in Reading

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • League One side set to win race for former Reading FC young star

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Reading FC forward given ultimatum over future at the club

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0

RDG.Today – which is a Social Enterprise – provides Reading Borough with free, independent news coverage.

If you are able, please support our work

Click Here to Support RDG.Today

ABOUT US

Reading Today is dedicated to providing news online across the whole of the Borough of Reading. It is a Social Enterprise, existing to support the various communities in Reading Borough.

CONTACT US

news@wokinghampaper.co.uk

Reading Today Logo

Keep up to date with our daily newsletter

We don’t spam we only send our newsletter to people that have subscribed

Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

The Wokingham Paper Ltd publications are regulated by IPSO – the Independent Press Standards Organisation.
If you have a complaint about a  The Wokingham Paper Ltd  publication in print or online, you should, in the first instance, contact the publication concerned, email: editor@wokingham.today, or telephone: 0118 327 2662. If it is not resolved to your satisfaction, you should contact IPSO by telephone: 0300 123 2220, or visit its website: www.ipso.co.uk. Members of the public are welcome to contact IPSO at any time if they are not sure how to proceed, or need advice on how to frame a complaint.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • HOME
  • MY AREA
    • Central Reading
    • East Reading
    • Bracknell
    • Calcot
    • Caversham
    • Crowthorne
    • Earley
  • COMMUNITY
  • SPORT
    • Reading FC
    • Football
    • Rugby
    • Basketball
  • ENTERTAINMENT
    • ARTS
    • READING FESTIVAL
    • READING PRIDE
    • WOKINGHAM FESTIVAL
  • PRIDE OF READING
  • OBITUARIES
  • JOBS
  • ADVERTISE
  • CONTACT US
  • SUPPORT US
  • SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER
  • WHERE TO GET THE PRINT EDITION

© 2021 - The Wokingham Paper Ltd - All Right Reserved.