China, on Friday, said it will “no longer recognize” the British National (Overseas) passport for Hong Kongers, as Britain prepares to offer millions of former colonial subjects a way to escape Beijing’s crackdown on dissent.
From Sunday, those with a BN(O) passport and their dependents will be able to apply online for a visa allowing them to live and work in the United Kingdom. After five years they can then apply for citizenship.
The new immigration scheme is a response to Beijing’s decision to impose a sweeping national security law on the city last year to snuff out huge and often violent democracy protests. Britain accused China of tearing up its promise ahead of Hong Kong’s 1997 handover that the financial hub would maintain key liberties and autonomy for 50 years.
It argues it has a moral duty to protect its former subjects. But, on Friday Beijing hit back ahead of the upcoming change. “From January 31, China will no longer recognize the so-called BN(O) passport as a travel document and ID document, and reserves the right to take further actions,” Foreign Ministry spokesman – Zhao Lijian told reporters.
It is unclear what China’s declaration means in practical terms. But, around 300,000 people are expected to leave Hong Kong for Britain using a new visa route which opens on Sunday. Boris Johnson said the move – which was announced in the wake of Beijing’s national security law being imposed on Hong Kong last year – honored the “profound ties of history and friendship” between the UK and its former colony. Hong Kongers with British National (Overseas) status and their dependents are eligible for the visas. After five years they will be able to apply for settlement, followed by British citizenship after a further 12 months. Although there are 2.9 million BN(O) citizens eligible to move to the UK, with a further estimated 2.3 million dependents, the Government expects take-up of the offer to be far smaller.
Meanwhile, the former head of a Chinese State-owned asset management company was executed Friday, on charges of taking bribes…in an unusually severe penalty for a recent corruption case.
Lai Xiaomin of China Huarong Asset Management Co., was among thousands of officials snared in a long-running anti-graft campaign led by President Xi Jinping. Others including China’s former insurance regulator have been sentenced to prison.
And, a man who was beaten, slashed, stripped and robbed by a violent mob in Manhattan Chinatown is a known gang member with a lengthy criminal record, according to police sources. The brazen attack, which was caught on surveillance video, occurred at Canal Street and Allen Street around 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 22. when a group of individuals assaulted the 26-year-old male victim and removed his cell phone, pants, underwear and shoes!
