Hong Kongers with BN(O) passports will be able to obtain British citizenship if China enforces the national security laws in the city, the British government announced on Thursday, marking a dramatic shift to London’s long-held policy
Hong Kongers with BN passports will be able to obtain British citizenship if China enforces the national security laws in the city, the British government announced on Thursday, marking a dramatic shift to London’s long-held policy.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Home Secretary Priti Patel made the move on the day China’s top legislature, the National People’s Congress, announced the decision to impose national security legislation on the former British colony. British National passports were issued to Hong Kongers born before the 1997 handover, and under current rules, passport holders can visit the UK for up for six months but cannot work or apply for citizenship. As of December, 300,000 Hong Kongers held a BN passport.“If China continues down this path and implements this national security legislation we will change that status, and we will remove that six-month limit and allow those BN passport holders to come to the UK and to apply to work and study for extendable periods of 12 months, and that would itself provide a pathway to future citizenship,” Raab told reporters. “In the meantime we urge China to step back from the brink and live up to its responsibilities as a leading member of the international community,” he added. Raab’s plan was echoed by Patel, who was understood to have been more supportive in the past of BN-holding Hong Kongers than Raab. Johnny Patterson, director of the London-based Hong Kong Watch group, said the British government should be prepared to take more action for Hong Kongers. “If things deteriorate further, the UK will need to consider extending the scheme beyond 12 months, up to and including right of abode, and encourage other international partners to create a lifeboat scheme to ensure all Hong Kongers, including those born after 1997, have a lifeline,” Patterson said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Pompeo declares Hong Kong no longer autonomous from ChinaThe declaration from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sets the stage for potential sanctions and higher trade tariffs on goods exported to the United States.
Read more »
Breakingviews - Hong Kong gets thrown under “make China pay” bus(Reuters Breakingviews) - The United States has found a new way to make China pay for Covid-19: by targeting Hong Kong.
Read more »
Top campaign advisor says Biden would sanction China over Hong KongJoe Biden would sanction China if president for its plan to impose new national security rules on Hong Kong, his campaign said on Wednesday, and accused President Donald Trump of having 'enabled' Beijing's curbs on freedoms in the former British colony.
Read more »
U.S. weighs options 'across the spectrum' to punish China over Hong KongThe Trump administration is crafting a range of options to punish China over its tightening grip on Hong Kong, including targeted sanctions, new tariffs and further restrictions on Chinese companies, according to U.S. officials and people familiar with the discussions.
Read more »
UK considers opening citizenship 'path' for 300k Hong Kong residentsThe UK govt. is mulling giving greater visiting rights to certain Hong Kong residents, unless the Chinese government suspends a controversial proposed national security law. This could make it easier for those residents to one day apply for UK citizenship.
Read more »