In response to Beijing’s implementation of the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law in Hong Kong last July, the British government is offering BNO passport holders and their families a new pathway to immigrant citizenship, with applications for the relevant immigrant visas to begin on January 31. Pro-establishment legislator Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee recently suggested that Beijing should revoke the Chinese nationality of Hong Kong people who immigrated on BNO passports as well as their right of abode in Hong Kong.
Former pro-democracy lawmaker Emily Lau said the new BNO immigration policy is welcomed by many Hong Kong people who believe the proposal is an enemy of Hong Kong people and that there are difficulties in its implementation. A middle-class Hong Kong citizen who plans to apply for a BNO immigrant visa said the proposal would only make her more antipathetic to Beijing and the Hong Kong government, and would speed up immigrants’ departure from Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong version of the National Security Law, unilaterally formulated by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, was introduced into Hong Kong for implementation through Annex III of the Basic Law late last June 30, completely bypassing the local consultation and legislative process in Hong Kong, causing an outcry from all sectors.
Regina Ip suggests Beijing to deal with dual nationality of Hong Kong people
On the first day of the implementation of the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law, the British government announced on July 1 last year that due to the serious violation of the National Security Law “Sino-British Joint Declaration”, the United Kingdom will provide a new way for Hong Kong people with British National (Overseas) passports (BNO) and their families to immigrate and become naturalized, commonly known as the 5+1 program, holders of BNO passports can apply for settled status after five years of residence in the United Kingdom, and then after one more year of residence in the United Kingdom, they can formally apply to become British citizens, and the relevant immigrant visas will be available for application on January 31.
In response to the BNO5+1 immigrant visa will soon begin to accept applications, the pro-establishment New People’s Party Chairman and Legislative Council Member Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee recently wrote in the South China Morning Post that it is time to deal with the issue of dual nationality of Hong Kong people, suggesting that the authorities can propose a definite cut-off date (cut-off date), after the date of acquisition of foreign nationality of Hong Kong people, will be considered out of their own will, according to the Chinese Nationality Law, Article 9 to give up Chinese nationality, no longer have the right of abode in Hong Kong and voting rights.
Speaking on a radio program Wednesday (Jan. 13), Mrs. Ip said the proposal is purely personal and has not been discussed with the Hong Kong government or mainland Chinese officials, but she believes it could prompt Hong Kong people who want to move to foreign countries to think through the consequences.
If Beijing adopts her proposal, it will not be effective immediately, because those Hong Kong people have not yet acquired foreign nationality, according to Yeh.
Emily Lau questions approach that makes enemies of Hong Kong people
The former legislator and former Democratic Party chairwoman Emily Lau, who appeared on the same radio program, said she believed that Regina Ip was furious with Britain, but did not understand why the other side had offered a plan before Beijing had a concrete proposal, describing the approach as an enemy of Hong Kong people.
Emily Lau said in an interview with the Voice of America that the BNO5+1 immigrant visa program was welcomed by many Hong Kong people, and that she had fought for the right of abode in Britain as early as 1984 when China and Britain negotiated the future of Hong Kong, until July last year when Beijing implemented the National Security Law in Hong Kong, the British government only announced the BNO immigrant visa program, which made Yeh Lau Suk-yee think that the British government had taken advantage of the fire to rob, worrying about panning Hong Kong. However, Emily Lau believes that Hong Kong people have the right to choose their own future.
Emily Lau said, “In fact, I never want the UK to provide nationality to those Hong Kong former British citizens, this time it (the UK) is not to give nationality, it wants you to live 5 +1 (6 years before you can officially obtain citizenship) , but I asked some Hong Kong people, he (they) very happy ah, probably because they actually have little expectation, suddenly bang a sound will have a 5 +1, so everyone so happy, so want to go, and then you come out to speak like this, that is, what is the meaning of it?”
Cancellation of permanent resident status in Hong Kong is difficult to implement
Emily Lau said that if Mrs. Regina Ip thinks that the British government is not doing the right thing and violating the Memorandum of Understanding of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, it should be directed at the British government, not at the sufferers of Hong Kong, which she thinks is quite outrageous.
Emily Lau said that this is the history of Hong Kong, the past decades to face the future of the problem, many Hong Kong people have multiple nationalities, multiple passports to buy a sense of security, if Beijing abolished the dual nationality of Hong Kong people, the implication is very wide, she believes that there are difficulties in the implementation.
She said: “Because those people are not saying I now give you a nationality, and then you instantly cancel his Chinese nationality, not ah, it (Britain) to 5 +1 (6 years), you even immigrate to Australia, or immigrate to Canada are many years, so you chase him? I really do not understand ah.”
The middle-class people say that Ye Liu proposes to accelerate the plan to leave Hong Kong
Miss Chow, a middle-class Hong Kong citizen in her 50s who supports the anti-China movement and works in the education industry, said in an interview with the Voice of America that after the implementation of the National Security Law on June 30 last year, she already had the idea of emigrating from Hong Kong, and the recent police raids on 53 pro-democracy activists under the National Security Law have strengthened her desire to leave, preferring to go to an unfamiliar place as a bet.
Miss Chow said: “I also no longer want me to have contribution (contribution) here again, including I already feel that to pay taxes to such a government, in fact, also can not help us ordinary citizens, rather than on my money to leave to find a new place, although that place may be very strange to me, is a big challenge, but instead of this, I The only thing I can do is to throw my weight around and go to what is called a betting store.”
Immigrants leave Hong Kong, even if they have to leave, they still prefer to gamble
Even if Chinese nationality and the right of abode in Hong Kong are ridiculed, Ms. Zhou also said that it will not affect her desire to immigrate.
Miss Zhou said, “If things are getting faster and worse, it will only make us have some people called the middle class, will only feel more insecure, or is very worried about our assets will not come later, we can still leave with money?”
Miss Zhou said that her circle of friends, many people are talking about immigration, there are friends in the education sector worried that teachers, social workers and other people engaged in public service have to swear allegiance, can no longer have dual citizenship, may consider early retirement, or resignation from Hong Kong.
Miss Zhou said, “Now most of us are discussing when to leave, and how to leave, as well as how the money to open an offshore account, the money first (move) oversea, people are looking at if the epidemic eases over there in the United Kingdom, after customs clearance we will actually go one after another.”
Study that the first two years or 600,000 Hong Kong people with BNO immigrants to the United Kingdom
According to a study published by the Hong Kong Overseas Chinese Association (Hongkongers in Britain) in mid-December last year, it is estimated that 600,000 Hong Kong people holding BNO passports will apply for new immigrant visas in the first two years, far more than the 200,000 estimated by the British government.
A total of 315 participants were surveyed in the study, 80% said they would emigrate within two years, of which 71% had a university degree, with an average age of 37 and a median annual salary of more than HK$340,000 (about US$44,000), with most respondents planning to emigrate with their other half and children.
The study shows that almost all respondents are worried about security and freedom issues and emigration, 96% of respondents are worried that Hong Kong is no longer the Hong Kong of the past, another 67% of respondents hope to have a better living environment in the UK, partly for the future education of their children.
Carrie Lam says no discussion on dual citizenship for BNO immigrants
Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said in a meeting with the media on Tuesday (January 12) that the Executive Council has not discussed the proposal that through the interpretation of the law by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China, future immigrants such as Hong Kong people holding BNO passports will not be regarded as permanent residents of Hong Kong and enjoy the relevant rights. However, Carrie Lam believes that there are countermeasures in response to the development is a matter of course.
Secretary for Security Lee Ka-chiu interviewed by the pro-China media Phoenix Satellite Television, criticized the UK for doing something that violates the “Sino-British Joint Declaration” and changing the handling of the BNO, which is a serious issue and Beijing has the right to speak. He stressed that Beijing’s attitude towards the BNO and the handling of any decision made, the SAR government will of course actively cooperate.
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