Britain has criticized China for jailing dozens of pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong after Sir Keir Starmer raised human rights concerns with Xi Jinping.

The timing of the sentence is embarrassing for Sir Keir, who became the first British prime minister since 2018 to meet the Chinese leader on the margins of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday.

But Downing Street defended his decision to meet the Chinese premier because it gave him the opportunity to raise his concerns face-to-face.

Asked whether Sir Keir knew 45 democracy activists would be punished when he met Mr Xi on Tuesday, a No 10 spokesman said: “I wouldn’t have expected advance notice, no.”

The spokesman added: “The Prime Minister has been able to raise concerns directly with a pragmatic approach and we believe this has had its benefits.

“Our position on Hong Kong has been quite clear for some time, but we have been expressing our concerns at all levels and the Prime Minister was able to do this at the highest level by engaging with the Chinese yesterday and we believe that the necessary measures will be taken to do so.” There are clear benefits to doing this.”

Sir Keir told the BBC it was important to have a “pragmatic relationship” with China, but “it is important that we are open about it and talk about our disagreements where we disagree, as we did yesterday.”

The prime minister told Mr. Xi that he wanted a relationship that would “avoid surprises as much as possible.”

Just hours later, former politicians and pro-democracy activists were sentenced to four to 10 years in prison in Hong Kong’s biggest national security case under a Beijing-imposed law that crushed the pro-democracy movement in the former British territory.

Activists were sentenced to prison for their roles in the unofficial 2020 primaries, while law professor Benny Tai was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his leading role in the vote.

Two of the 47 main defendants were acquitted earlier this year. The rest either pleaded guilty or were found guilty of conspiracy to commit subversion.

Indo-Pacific minister Catherine West said: “China’s imposition of the national security law (NSL) on Hong Kong has eroded the rights and freedoms of Hongkongers.

“Today’s sentencing is a clear indication that Hong Kong authorities are using the NSL to criminalize political dissent.

“Those convicted today were exercising the freedoms of expression, assembly and political participation guaranteed under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Fundamental Law.

“The United Kingdom will always stand with the people of Hong Kong, and all states must uphold their international obligations to protect these fundamental rights.”

Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said penalties under the “draconian” law were appalling.

He said: “The Prime Minister met with President Xi yesterday and said he wanted a respectful relationship, a relationship in which both countries tried to avoid surprises… But less than 24 hours later the Sino-British declaration was violated once again with this punishment. 45 pro-democracy campaigner.

“Where does this leave the Government’s reset with Beijing?”