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Britain may offer "path to citizenship" for nearly 3 million in Hong Kong

Published 29/05/2020, 21:17
Updated 29/05/2020, 21:20
© Reuters. Priti Patel arrives at Downing Street in London

© Reuters. Priti Patel arrives at Downing Street in London

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain is prepared to offer extended visa rights and a pathway to citizenship for almost 3 million Hong Kong residents in response to China's push to impose national security legislation in the former British colony.

China's parliament has approved a decision to go forward with national security legislation for Hong Kong that democracy activists, diplomats and some in the business world fear will jeopardise its semi-autonomous status and its role as a global financial hub.

Britain, the United States, Australia, Canada and the EU have all sharply criticised the move.

Foreign minister Dominic Raab said on Thursday that if Beijing went ahead, Britain would extend the rights of 350,000 'British National Overseas' passport holders.

On Friday the interior ministry said that this policy would apply to all BNOs currently in Hong Kong - a much larger group of around 2.9 million people according to British government figures.

"If China imposes this law, we will explore options to allow British Nationals Overseas to apply for leave to stay in the UK, including a path to citizenship," Home Secretary Priti Patel said in a statement.

"We will continue to defend the rights and freedoms of the people of Hong Kong."

Beijing says the new legislation, likely to come into force before September, will tackle secession, subversion, terrorism and foreign interference in the city.

© Reuters. Priti Patel arrives at Downing Street in London

Chinese authorities and Hong Kong's government say the legislation poses no threat to the city's autonomy and the interests of foreign investors will be preserved.

Latest comments

Does Nigel Farage know about this ?
Coincidentally, I wrote the following to my MP a week ago: " With reference to the Draconian restrictions on freedom that the Chinese government is imposing upon Hong Kong, would you please be able to see if the UK can give expedited refuge to all Hong Kong residents that are highly-skilled. Their skills and wealth can hugely benefit the British economy in their, and our, time of need. Furthermore, as a previous British colony, I believe we have a responsibility to help them." ReplyReport this! Hide all comments
Go for the African that has been colonised by the British if that seems very important to your country about socalled injustice to the HK people when infact the British may be contributing to the tension as a result of injustice of the China mainland given preferences to the HK people and the mainland China be of the disadvantage side. Maybe the US should give preference to one of the UK‘s Nations - maybe Wales and see how England will react- probably worse. Its always about yourselves and you are even asking for expertise of HK - were they educated under the British government? Being levelheaded is what the world need and not selfish mischief known as „me alone“ matters - that is when there is a lot of injustice. Help HK and China unite just like the UK unity of 4 nations
Maybe when the UK is seaching for a trade deal with the EU preference should be given only to Scotland then the British will understand the injustice it has done to the mainland China - food for thought - think not only for yourselves of gains but every nation matter- but the British sense of judgement at times serms to be - excuse me - only about itself or country- look at your country Britain being treated this way - that is when you start thinking outside the box based on another perspective of fairness
The free world HAS to respond with the threat of economic isolation i.e. put them back to where they were 40 years ago. A complete embargo on Chinese exports. We'll buy elsewhere. The world coped before China liberalised and it can do so again. Nothing original has came out of China since gunpowder and silk....everything else it exports is either counterfeited using stolen technology or a virus. They are now increasingly upping the ante. Time to be tough. If not then they will view that as weakness and, bet your bottom dollar, Taiwan's next.
Keeping your emotions aside, You do know that China is a big export market for Western high end goods especially expensive brands who make good profits with huge margins ?
why are the CCP doing it then?
please educate yourself in the subject matter the socalled ******which has no excuses what so ever but remember ****as an austrian did not just recolate to germany to fight and did all thise horrible things that he did but history suggest that he ploted a coup in germany and in which he was arrested. ****did a lot of bad things but your tone with so much hatred in which I can tell you do not have the real fact of the matter like many many people but alot do know the facts because they kniw their history - all this occured in the 2ww due to the fact that the british and french oppresed the germans in a treaty from the 1ww and in which ****felt unjust against the germans but however all this that happened the germans were always the victims - i do not expect you to understan but its best you read your history on this matter so next time you may rethink when exploding in anger when expressing your views. the germans accept all the blame since it happened on its soil.
soldiers unfortunately always have to follows its leaders upon command whether it favours them in not and same had to apply upon the command of ***who was an authoritor from austria and relocated to germany and used the german soldiers and dif what he did that today after 75 years the germans still hold thus accusations from the world since most people do not know their history and I can imagine this subject is not thought in the uk and if it were the case people woulf have build their own independent mind other than the standard message over the entire years-
besides why do you think trump is right - maybe when your country is continuesly being oppressed due to the fact that china had a lot of business ties around the world and in which trump is disturbed due the probably the fact that china may pass america in trade deals under his administration of dictatorship and for that may keep undermining china as a whole and he pretends to care about hongkong people when infact he gives ******no interest in these people let alone his own people - trump is doing what he is doing out f personal economic gains and not because he cares about the people if hk. america first - you remember dont you. trump has absolutely no interest in anyone but to use any loophole he gets to destroy the market of china - china among all countries in the world is africas first priority - does trump care about that
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