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Hong Kong: Raab to set out UK's response to 'anti-protest' law Hong Kong: UK makes citizenship offer to residents
(about 2 hours later)
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will set out later what action the UK will take in response to China's imposition of an "anti-protest" law in Hong Kong. British passport holders living in Hong Kong will be able to settle in the UK and ultimately apply for citizenship, Boris Johnson has said.
He has warned Beijing that eroding Hong Kong's autonomy risks "violating" legal obligations entered into when it took control of the ex-UK colony in 1997. The PM said the former British colony's freedoms were being violated by a new Chinese security law and he stood by his commitment to help those affected.
The UK says it is ready to help Hong Kong citizens with British overseas passports to come to the country. Under the plans, up to 350,000 passport holders will have an unlimited right to live and work in the UK for five years.
China rejects criticism of its actions, on what it says are internal matters. And after a further year, they will be able to apply for citizenship.
At the moment, British National Overseas Passport holders have restricted rights and are only entitled to visa-free access to the UK for six months.
Speaking in the Commons, the PM said Tuesday's passing of a new security law was a "clear and serious breach" of the 1985 Sino-British joint declaration - a legally binding agreement which set out how certain freedoms would be protected for the 50 years after China assumed sovereignty in 1997.
'New route'
"It violates Hong Kong's high degree of autonomy and threatens the freedoms and rights protected by the joint declaration," he said.
"We made clear that if China continued down this path we would introduce a new route for those with British National (Overseas) status to enter the UK, granting them limited leave to remain with the ability to live and work in the UK and thereafter to apply for citizenship. And that is precisely what we will do now."
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said there would be no limit on numbers or quotas, telling MPs that the UK would "not duck" its international obligations when it came to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong's new national security law, which targets secession, subversion and terrorism with punishments up to life in prison, came into effect on Tuesday.Hong Kong's new national security law, which targets secession, subversion and terrorism with punishments up to life in prison, came into effect on Tuesday.
Critics say it effectively puts an end to the "one country, two systems" principle enshrined in the 1985 Joint Declaration, a legally binding agreement signed by the UK and China which protected certain freedoms in the territory for at least 50 years. Critics say it effectively puts an end to the "one country, two systems" principle enshrined in the 1985 Joint Declaration.
The UK government is under pressure to take a firm line with Beijing from MPs on all sides of the Commons, who are worried about China's increasingly assertive role regionally and the security implications of Chinese firm Huawei's involvement in the UK's 5G network.The UK government is under pressure to take a firm line with Beijing from MPs on all sides of the Commons, who are worried about China's increasingly assertive role regionally and the security implications of Chinese firm Huawei's involvement in the UK's 5G network.
Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Raab said he would set out the UK's next steps after government lawyers had studied the details of the national security legislation. Labour said it welcomed the government's action and said there must be no discrimination on the basis of income or other factors.
But Mr Raab, who will make a statement at about 12.40 BST, said China's actions were "deeply troubling" and the UK would work with its G7 partners to put pressure on Beijing to think again. China rejects criticism of its actions, on what it says are internal matters.
He also re-stated the UK's commitment to make it easier for the 350,000 or so Hong Kong residents who are British National Overseas Passport holders to come to the UK, as well as the 2.6 million others are also eligible.
'Profound ties'
At the moment, they are entitled to visa-free access to the UK for six months but Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that, if the national security law passes, this will be extended to 12 months with the right to renew.
As a mark of the UK's "profound ties of history" with Hong Kong, Mr Johnson has said the UK will go further and give those who are eligible further immigration rights, including the right to work, as part of a potential route to British citizenship.
In an article earlier this month, Mr Johnson said this would represent one of the biggest shake-ups of UK visa rule in recent history.
Labour said the government must "not waver" from its obligations to the people of Hong Kong and it expected the foreign secretary to lay out "concrete steps" to uphold the freedoms of those living there.
"The government promised action," said shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy. "Now is not the moment to look away."
On Wednesday, several people were arrested in Hong Kong, including a man carrying a pro-independence flag as police used pepper spray to disperse some protesters gathered to mark 23 years since British rule ended.On Wednesday, several people were arrested in Hong Kong, including a man carrying a pro-independence flag as police used pepper spray to disperse some protesters gathered to mark 23 years since British rule ended.
The annual pro-democracy march to mark the anniversary had been banned for the first time by authorities, who cited a bar on gatherings of more than 50 people because of Covid-19.The annual pro-democracy march to mark the anniversary had been banned for the first time by authorities, who cited a bar on gatherings of more than 50 people because of Covid-19.