Ex-Hong Konger criticises city’s China twinning

Former Hong Kong resident Clara Cheung has criticised Sheffield’s twinning agreement with Chengdu, arguing it risks signalling support for China’s government and may discourage Hong Kong students from speaking out. Sheffield Council leader Fran Belbin said the link does not endorse the Chinese government’s policies, and that the council has no current plans to end it.

Cheung cited concerns about human rights, religious freedom, Uyghur Muslims and Tibetans, as well as pressure on Sheffield Hallam University’s research into Uyghur forced labour. Sheffield has been twinned with Chengdu since 2010; it also twinned with a Ukrainian city in 2022 and made a friendship agreement with Nablus in 2024. Belbin said international ties support economic, educational and cultural links, while foreign policy and sanctions are chiefly the UK government’s responsibility; China’s embassy called Cheung’s claims fabricated and groundless.