CROYDON South MP Sir Richard Ottaway has branded the Chinese government "frankly ridiculous" after it blocked a delegation of British MPs from travelling to Hong Kong.
Sir Richard had been due to visit the former British territory in the third week of December, as part of an inquiry into the state of the Joint Declaration that paved the way for handover to China in 1997.
But a senior Chinese diplomat has now informed Sir Richard that the Chinese intend to block his group's visit, as tensions grow in Hong Kong, with more and more violent clashes between police and anti-government protesters in recent weeks.
Sir Richard, who is standing down as an MP at next year's General Election, has called for an emergency parliamentary debate into China's move.
"The Chinese Government are acting in an overtly confrontational manner in refusing us access to do our job," he said.
