China "will no longer recognize" special British passports granted to Hong Kong people

China announced on Friday that it would no longer recognize special passports granted by Great Britain to certain Hong Kong nationals, after London's decision to extend their residency rights on British soil.

AP - Kin Cheung

Text by: RFI Follow

4 min

China announced on Friday that it would no longer recognize special passports granted by Great Britain to certain Hong Kong nationals, after London's decision to extend their residence rights on British soil.

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London announced the entry into force on Sunday of an extended stay associated with the passport, in reaction to last year China's imposition of a

national security law

that restricted freedoms in the former British colony.

Hong Kong people holding a British Overseas Passport (BNO), a document inherited from the handover to China in 1997, will now be able to live and work in the United Kingdom for five years, and eventually apply for British nationality.

Until now, they were only allowed to visit the UK for six months, without being able to work there.

 Beijing

indignation

"

In reaction, Beijing expressed its " 

indignation

 ".

As of January 31, China will no longer recognize so-called British overseas passports as travel or identity documents,

 " Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson told reporters. , Zhao Lijian.

Beijing “ 

reserves the right to take additional measures

 ,” he added.

The United Kingdom is in the process of transforming a large number of Hong Kong residents into second-class British citizens

 ," the spokesperson then accused.

What consequences for Hong Kong people? 

The practical consequences of Beijing's announcement are unclear.

This could mean that Hong Kong people with BNO passports will no longer be able to enter mainland China.

But the Chinese authorities do not necessarily know who has such a passport.

When traveling to mainland China, Hong Kong people can only use their Hong Kong passport.

They only have a reason to use their BNO passport to enter UK soil or another country recognizing this travel document.

More and more Hong Kong people are joining the UK 

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Friday that the new rights " 

honor our deep historical and friendly ties with the people of Hong Kong

 " and defend freedom.

The law on national security instituted in

Hong Kong

constitutes a clear and serious violation of the Sino-British joint declaration

 " which presided over the return of the territory, denounced the British Minister for Foreign Affairs Dominic Raab.

According to London, there are around 350,000 BNO passport holders, a figure that has almost doubled since the protest began in Hong Kong a year and a half ago.

But 2.9 million other Hong Kong people, in fact all those born before 1997, can obtain this document.

According to the British Home Office, 7,000 BNO passport holders have already reached the United Kingdom between July and mid-January, thanks to an exceptional procedure.

London estimates that the new system could attract up to 322,400 of their compatriots within five years.

To read: Hong Kong: exile Ray Wong expects a mass exodus

(

with

AFP

)

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