Australia, Hong Kong butt heads
AUSTRALIA is suspending its extradition treaty with Hong Kong in response to a new security law imposed there last week. In an announcement yesterday Prime Minister Scott Morrison set forth measures to attract businesses from the Asian financial hub, provoking an angry response from Beijing.
Morrison said Hong Kong students, graduates and workers in Australia on temporary visas would have the opportunity to stay and work for an extra five years and apply for permanent residency after that time.
Future student visas would also be offered for five years, however Morrison said they were “not expecting large numbers of applicants any time soon”.
In Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Morrison’s government should stop interfering in Chinese affairs, warning that China, the biggest customer for Australian exports, reserved the right to take retaliatory action.
Two-way trade between the countries was worth A$235 billion last year.
The Chinese embassy in Canberra warned earlier that unless Australia stopped meddling “it would lead to nothing but lifting a rock only to hit its own feet”.
There are 10 000 Hong Kong citizens in Australia on student or temporary work visas, with a further 2 500 outside Australia and 1 250 applications on hand, according to the government. Hong Kong applicants would be prioritised under Australia’s Global Talent Scheme and business visa programme.
Morrison also made a pitch for international financial services, consulting and media businesses with regional headquarters in Hong Kong to relocate to Australia.
He said measures would be accommodated within Australia’s existing caps on permanent resident visas, and Hong Kong citizens could also apply to the humanitarian and refugee visa programme.
Australia changed its travel advisory for Hong Kong, where about 100 000 Australians live and work, to say “reconsider your need to remain in Hong Kong” if they are concerned about the new law.
China has charged that Australia engaged in espionage and has warned its students and tourists against visiting the country due to racism.