China’s warning over Hong Kong citizenship

ASENIOR Chinese diplomat has warned the UK there will be “consequences” if it goes ahead with plans to offer millions of Hongkongers the chance of citizenship.

China’s ceremonial legislature, the National People’s Congress, recently endorsed a controversial security law for Hong Kong which critics say will strip the territory of its autonomy.

The law, which will alter the former British colony’s mini-constitution, or Basic Law, will require Hong Kong’s government to enforce measures to be decided later by Chinese leaders.

In response, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the UK is ready to open the door to almost three million Hong Kong citizens if China presses ahead with the law by effectively upgrading the status of British National (Overseas) passports to grant immigration rights beyond the current six-month limit.

But Chen Wen, Minister and First Staff Member of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, told BBC Radio 4’s World At One that there will be “consequences” if the UK goes ahead with this. She said that that any changes to the British National (Overseas) status of Hong Kong citizens will be breaking commitments made by the UK at the time of the handover.

When asked what the consequences would be if Mr Johnson went ahead with the plan, she said: “Let’s wait and see, there will be consequences, that’s for sure.”

But Ms Chen said her comments were not a “threat” and added: “Changing the status quo of BNO itself is a threat.

“I’m not threatening anything. “This is not correct decision and it will be damaging to Hong Kong’s stability and it will be damaging to the UK’s own image of abiding by its own commitments, it will be damaging to bilateral relationship.”

Her comments come after former foreign secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind said the UK Government had sent a message to China with its plans to offer Hongkongers the chance of citizenship.

Sir Malcolm, who was foreign secretary in the lead-up to the handover of Hong Kong in 1997, said he thought the decision was made for two reasons, including telling China that the economically important Hong Kong would become an “empty husk”.

Speaking at an event hosted by the Henry Jackson Society think tank, he said: “First of all, to help the morale of people in Hong Kong, that they’re not being forgotten, and that anything that can be done about practical guidance in terms of their longterm future is something the British Government and British public are very keen to contemplate.

“But secondly, also it’s a message to China. They must be aware that if they push Hong Kong too far... then they will lose the goose that lays the golden egg.”

Critics of China’s planned law argue it rips up the “one country, two systems” agreement, under which Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule, that guaranteed the territory a high degree of autonomy for 50 years.

Sir Malcolm stressed that the UK had a “legal and ethical” obligation to raise the issue.