01 May 2024,   07:54
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China banned from viewing Queen Elizabeth lying-in-state

A Chinese government delegation has been banned from attending the lying-in-state of Queen Elizabeth II, the BBC understands.

House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is understood to have refused a request for access to Westminster Hall over Chinese sanctions against five MPs and two peers.

Queen Elizabeth will lie in state until her funeral on Monday.

The Speaker’s office told the BBC it did not comment on security matters.

A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said they had not seen a reports about the ban, which first emerged on the Politico website.

“As a host, the UK is certainly familiar with diplomatic protocols and proper manners of receiving guests”, - China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, said.

Last year, China imposed travel bans and asset freezes on nine Britons - including seven parliamentarians - for accusing Beijing of mistreating Uighur Muslims.

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