The Chinese government is attempting to lobby British MPs to prevent human rights activists in the UK from criticizing its Hong Kong policy, a senior activist has claimed.

Benedict Rogers, the deputy chairman of the Conservative Party Human Rights Commission, said he was warned by two MPs about Beijing's alleged attempts after he wrote an article for the website Conservativehome.com.

It is understood that the Chinese government may have learned of the article before it was published by monitoring the emails of Mr Rogers' colleagues in Hong Kong.

In June 2017, one of the MPs, which Mr Rogers wishes not to identify, told him that the Chinese embassy had expressed extreme displeasure about the piece, which discussed the erosion of freedom and autonomy in Hong Kong.

There is no suggestion either MP lobbied Mr Rogers on behalf on behalf of the Chinese government, but were instead warning him of what was underway.

The claims were brought to light in written evidence submitted to Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee earlier this week.

"I find it astonishing that a major world superpower with so many important issues to discuss would be bothered with me," Mr Rogers told the Telegraph, who speculated that Beijing has grossly over-estimated his influence in British politics.