The dispute between Britain and China over the issuance of the British National (Overseas) Passport BNO to Hong Kong people continues to heat up. In response to the Chinese decision not to recognize the BNO passport, the British side firmly stated that it would not waver in its position on the issue.
A spokesman for British Prime Minister Johnathan said Friday that Britain has no other choice on the Hong Kong issue. “We have been very clear about Hong Kong and we are not going to turn our back on it.”
The spokesman added: “People with BNO status now have the option to live, work and study in Britain. In this case, people with BNO status and their families can come to the UK using travel documents other than BNO passports and visas.”
By “travel documents other than BNO passports and visas”, we mean Hong Kong passports, Hong Kong permanent residence permits, etc. If the Hong Kong authorities refuse to accept BNO passports, Hong Kong residents can use their other valid identity documents to travel to the UK and then use their BNO passports when they arrive in the UK. This is one of the UK’s responses to help Hong Kong residents travel to the UK.
It is estimated that the total number of BNO passport holders and their dependents, roughly 5.2 million, is significantly more than half of Hong Kong’s total population of 7.5 million. If all of these people emigrated to the UK, they could take away £3 billion in funds. This would be a heavy blow to the Hong Kong economy.
Prime Minister Johnson said in a statement on Friday that the new initiative would provide a new way for BNO passport holders to live, work and settle in Britain, and through it express the deep historical ties and friendship between Britain and the people of Hong Kong, defending the freedom and autonomy that Britain and Hong Kong share and cherish.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian strongly condemned Britain’s move on Friday, saying, “This move seriously infringes on China’s sovereignty, grossly interferes in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs, and seriously violates international law and the basic norms of international relations. China is strongly indignant and resolutely opposes it.”
Zhao Lijian also announced that “as of January 31, China no longer recognizes the so-called BNO passport as a travel document and proof of identity, and reserves the right to take further measures.”
The British government announced that an adjusted British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport and visa policy came into effect as of January 31.
According to Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, the Hong Kong government government also issued a statement Friday night announcing that BNO passports will no longer serve as clearance documents and the Customs and Immigration Department will no longer recognize BNOs as identity documents as of Jan. 31.
The statement said, “Anyone coming to Hong Kong on a flight, airlines must ask Hong Kong residents to present their HKSAR passport or Hong Kong permanent resident identity card.”
The UK introduced a new BNO visa policy after the implementation of the National Security Law in Hong Kong at the end of June last year. Under this policy, anyone who gets a BNO visa can apply for permanent resident status after living in the UK for five years. After 12 months of obtaining settled status, they will be able to apply for British citizenship. Previously, BNO passport holders could only stay in the UK visa-free for six months, but had no right to stay or work.
All Hong Kong residents born before 1997 are eligible to apply for BNO status. The new British BNO visa rules thus pave the way for some 2.9 million Hong Kong citizens and their approximately 2.3 million immediate Family members to immigrate to the UK.
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