Britain opens door to HK citizens as China cracks down
LONDON/HONG KONG: Britain announced on Wednesday it was extending residency rights to up to 3 million Hong Kongers eligible for the British National Overseas passport, stressing that it would uphold its historic duty to a former British colony after Beijing imposed a sweeping new national security law in Hong Kong. The announcement was made shortly after Hong Kong police made their first arrests, about 300 of them, under the new national security law as thousands defied tear gas and pepper pellets to protest against it.
LONDON: Terming China’s new security law for Hong Kong a “clear and serious breach” of the agreement that preceded the 1997 handover, the British government Britain on Wednesday offered a new citizenship path to the city’s residents.
The legislation passed on Tuesday by China’s parliament outlaws secessionist, subversive or terrorist activities illegal, as well as foreign intervention in the city’s internal affairs, with penalties up to life imprisonment.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab said the law violates the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration under which Hong Kong’s autonomy was guaranteed under the “one country, two systems” principle for 50 years.
Raab told the House of Commons that there will be no limit to how many who could use the new
pathway, but estimates put the figure of British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders and dependants at nearly 3 million.
The immigration route will allow BNOs to come to the UK without the current six-month limit, granting them five years limited leave to remain.