CHINA is set to REJECT the UK’s offer to give Hong Kong residents British citizenships.
The move would be a massive blow to Hong Kongers eligible for a British National (Overseas) Passport hoping to flee to the UK after a Chinese crackdown on the city-state.
In a press conference this morning Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said China firmly opposes the UK’s offer of residency to those eligible for BNO passports.
China could ditch recognition of a BNO passport as a viable travel document – barring people from leaving Hong Kong with them.
He said he considered it an unnecessary interference in Hong Kong’s affairs and China’s internal affairs and China would reserve the right to take further action.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said over the weekend if China did such a thing “Ultimately, if they follow through on something like that, there would be little we could do to coercively force them.”
Home Secretary Priti Patel released more details yesterday announcing Hong Kongers born after July 1997 will have a right to live in the UK for five years if their parents hold BNO – and then they can apply to become British after six years.
Approximately 2.9 million people holding BNO passports will be eligible to live, work and study in the UK once the scheme launches in 2021.
Ms Patel has already handed Border Officers the power to grant Hong Kong residents with BNO status and their families leave to stay in the UK.
The decision to give Hong Kongers a path to UK citizenship comes in the midst of fiery relationships with China after it imposed tough new national security laws on Hong Kong.