Overview

The Tibet (Reciprocal Access) Bill aims to improve access for UK nationals to Tibet by requiring the UK government to report annually on access restrictions compared to other parts of China. It also proposes denying entry to the UK for individuals substantially involved in imposing these restrictions, promoting reciprocal access to Tibet and the UK.

Description

This bill mandates the Secretary of State to produce annual reports comparing access to Tibetan areas with access to other regions of China for UK diplomats, officials, journalists, and tourists. These reports will be presented to Parliament and the UN Special Committee on Decolonization. The bill also introduces immigration restrictions. If the Secretary of State determines that any of these groups have less access to Tibetan areas than other parts of China, a list will be maintained of individuals significantly involved in creating or enforcing these policies. Individuals on this list will be refused entry to or will have their permission to remain in the UK revoked. The Secretary of State can waive these restrictions if deemed necessary for UK national interests, but must provide justification to Parliament. The bill also introduces a requirement for the Secretary of State to consider the level of access granted to UK officials in Tibet when granting access to Chinese officials in the UK.

Government Spending

The bill's financial implications are not explicitly stated. The cost will likely involve resources for report preparation, analysis, and maintaining the list of individuals subject to immigration restrictions. No specific figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

• UK Nationals: May experience improved or unchanged access to Tibet depending on the outcome of the bill's implementation.
• Chinese Officials: May face restrictions on UK access depending on reciprocal access to Tibet.
• Individuals Involved in Restricting Access to Tibet: May be denied entry to or have their UK visas revoked.
• Parliamentary Committees: Will receive reports under the bill’s requirements.
• The UN Special Committee on Decolonization: Will receive reports on access to Tibet.

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