The tone hardens between Beijing and London around the question of Hong Kong. The Chinese Embassy in London announced on Thursday that the country will take "adequate measures" if the United Kingdom expands access to British citizenship for residents of the autonomous region, due to the adopted national security law. June 30.

"If the British side unilaterally changes the current rule, it would constitute a breach of its own position and of international law," the embassy said in a statement. "We strongly oppose it and reserve the right to take appropriate measures," added the statement, without further details.

On Wednesday, less than 24 hours after the entry into force of the national security law imposed by Beijing on Hong Kong, the police made the first arrests under this text which makes Chinese justice competent for the most serious crimes in this domain.

"British overseas passport"

The UK announced on Wednesday a plan to expand immigration rights for Hong Kong residents on the grounds that the law imposed by Beijing was a violation of the autonomy of the former British colony. This territory had been returned to China in 1997, on condition that certain freedoms, as well as judicial and legislative autonomy, be preserved for 50 years.

London plans to modify the conditions attached to the "British overseas passport", in order to make them more favorable and allow their holders to come and live and work in the United Kingdom.

There are approximately 350,000 holders of this passport, a figure that has almost doubled since the start of the dispute in Hong Kong against the central government in Beijing a year ago. But 2.9 million other Hong Kongers, those born before 1997, are eligible to obtain this document.

Several other Western countries, including 27 members of the UN Human Rights Council, have condemned the new security law, fearing that it will lead to the repression of all political opposition.

With AFP

The France 24 week summary invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

I subscribe

Take international news everywhere with you! Download the France 24 app

google-play-badge_FR