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BEIJING (AFP, REUTERS) – China said on Friday (January 29) that it will “no longer recognize” the British national passport (overseas) for Hong Kong residents, as Britain prepares to open its doors to millions of more residents of the former colony after a security. repression by Beijing.
The Chinese move follows a promise by the government of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to provide a long-term sanctuary for Hong Kong residents who want to leave the territory. Holders of British national (overseas) status, a legacy of British rule over Hong Kong until 1997, will be able to apply from Sunday to live and work in Britain for up to five years and eventually seek citizenship.
“I am immensely proud to have brought this new route for Hong Kong BNOs to live, work and settle in our country,” Johnson said in a statement.
BNO passport holders previously only had limited rights to visit Britain for up to six months, and no rights to work or settle.
Beijing was quick to hit back on the British exchange on Friday.
“As of January 31, China will no longer recognize the so-called BNO passport as a travel document and identity document, and reserves the right to take further action,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters. .
Following China’s move, Hong Kong also said it would not recognize the BNO passport as a valid travel document as of January 31.
Zhao said that an “outraged” China believed that Britain had gone well beyond the scope of the agreement and therefore voided it.
“The UK is trying to turn large numbers of Hong Kong residents into second-class British citizens … and it has already completely changed the nature of the BNO,” he added.
China’s move against Britain on the issue is seen as more symbolic than having a practical impact, as Hong Kong residents do not need BNO passports to travel in and out of the city or country, but it could indicate tougher action. in the future, southern China. Morning Post reported.
The threat of further action suggests that Beijing could be preparing more restrictions for BNO holders in the future.
Chinese officials already warned last year that they might consider ending BNO passport recognition. At the time, they said it would mean that BNO holders would not be able to travel to mainland China.
Hong Kong people use their own Hong Kong passport or identification card to leave the city. To enter mainland China, they must use their Hong Kong passport. The only time they can use a BNO is upon arrival in Great Britain or another country that recognizes the document.
London says it is acting in response to a national security law imposed by China last June that has devastated Hong Kong’s democracy movement and eroded the freedoms that were supposed to last 50 years under the 1997 handover deal.
Beijing’s imposition of the national security law prompted Britain to offer refuge to nearly 3 million Hong
Kong residents eligible for the BNO passport as of January 31. The scheme, first announced last year, opens on Sunday and allows those with BNO status to live, study and work in Britain for five years and eventually apply for citizenship.
BNO is a special status created under British law in 1987 that specifically relates to Hong Kong.
The new 250-pound (S $ 456) visa could attract more than 300,000 people and their dependents to Britain and generate up to 2.9 billion pounds of net benefits for the British economy over the next five years, according to government forecasts.
Around noon on Sunday, eligible applicants can apply online and book an appointment to have their fingerprints registered at a visa application center.
As of February 23, some will be able to apply through a smartphone application.
It is still very uncertain how many people will actually accept the offer. The British government estimates that 2.9 million people and another 2.3 million dependents will be eligible to come to Britain.
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