UK plans citizenship for Hong Kong residents as protests grow
HONGKONG: UK foreign secretary Dominic Raab warned the government will open a path to citizenship for 300,000 Hong Kong residents unless China backs down on its planned security laws.
China warned on Friday that it will not let the US “kidnap” the UN Security Council after Washington and London put Beijing’s the security law before the world body.
The US, UK Canada and Australia led criticism of the planned law, which would punish secession, subversion of state power, terrorism and acts that endanger national security, as well as allow Chinese security agencies to operate openly in Hong Kong.
Dozens of people joined a protest in a mall in Hong Kong on Friday following the vote by China’s ceremonial parliament to approve the legislation that could severely restrict opposition political activity and civic activity in the Asian financial hub.
The United States will take action to prevent alleged espionage by Chinese students, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Raab said visa rights will be extended for British National (Overseas) passport holders as the dispute with Beijing over the reforms to Hong Kong residents’ rights escalated.
The minister said he was making the move after China formally announced their decision “to impose security legislation on the people of Hong Kong.”
“We are deeply troubled about this step,” Raab said.