China News Service, July 2nd, according to the website of the Chinese Embassy in the UK, the British embassy said that it would provide more residency rights to Hong Kong residents who hold a British Overseas Citizen Passport (BNO). The Chinese side urges the British side to treat the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s national security legislation objectively and impartially and not to interfere in Hong Kong affairs in any way.
Image source: Screenshot of the website of the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom.
A spokesman for the embassy said that regarding the issue of British National (Overseas) passports, the British side had exchanged memorandums with China and made a clear commitment not to grant Hong Kong Chinese citizens holding British National (Overseas) passports the right of abode in the UK.
The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China clearly stated in the “Interpretation of Several Issues Concerning the Implementation of the Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region” that all Chinese compatriots in Hong Kong, regardless of whether they hold a “British Dependent Territories Passport” or “British "National (overseas) passports" are all Chinese citizens.
If the British side insists on unilaterally changing the relevant practices, it will not only violate its own position and commitment, but also violate the basic principles of international law and international relations. China firmly opposes this and reserves the right to take corresponding measures. The Chinese side urges the British side to treat the Hong Kong SAR’s national security legislation objectively and impartially, respect China’s position and concerns, and not interfere in Hong Kong affairs in any way.