China’s UK passport boycott for Hong Kong residents

CHINA has escalated its feud with the UK over Hong Kong by saying it will no longer recognise the British National (Overseas) passport as a valid travel document or form of identification.

The move comes in response to the UK Government allowing Hong Kong residents who hold a BNO passport a route to residency and eventual citizenship in Britain.

The offer was made after Beijing imposed stringent national security laws on the territory, in apparent violation of the agreement made between the two countries when Hong Kong was handed back to China in 1997.

Tomorrow, Britain will begin taking applications from up to 5.4 million Hong Kong residents to live and work in the UK for five years before applying for citizenship. The Government estimates 300,000 will eventually take this visa route.

Announcing China’s retaliation yesterday, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said: ‘The British side’s attempt to

‘Seriously infringes on sovereignty’

turn a large number of Hong Kong people into second-class British citizens has completely changed the nature of the two sides’ original understanding of BNO.

‘This move seriously infringes on China’s sovereignty, grossly interferes in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs, and seriously violates international law and the basic norms of international relations. China will no longer recognise the so-called BNO passport as a travel document and proof of identity starting from January 31.’

Many Hong Kong residents carry multiple passports and it is unclear what the Chinese move will accomplish.

It will not stop BNO passport holders leaving for Britain and it will not – under current rules – stop them from going back to Hong Kong. But it could potentially stop them going to the Chinese mainland, for example to visit relatives.

Conservative MP Michael Fabricant said yesterday: ‘So much for treaty obligations to respect the citizenry rights of Hong Kong.’