Instant International
Written by: Xu Yi'an
2021-04-14 09:00
Last update date: 2021-04-14 09:09
The United Kingdom pledged on April 8 to provide 43 million pounds (about 460 million Hong Kong dollars) to help Hong Kong people holding British National (Overseas) Passports (BNO) find jobs, houses and schools in the UK.
The Chinese side responded to this.
The spokesperson of the Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom said on the 13th that China and Britain had exchanged memorandums on the issue of British National (Overseas) Passports (BNO). In the memorandum, the British side explicitly promised not to grant Hong Kong Chinese citizens holding BNO passports the right of abode in the UK.
The Chinese side claimed that the British side violated its commitments, unilaterally changed relevant practices and interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs.
China expresses strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this, and has announced that it will not recognize the BNO passport as a valid travel document and identity proof, and reserves the right to take further measures.
The picture shows a pigeon flying on the banks of the Thames in London, England, on April 21. The opposite bank is St. Paul's Cathedral.
(AP)
The spokesman said that the British side has repeatedly hyped the BNO issue in an attempt to turn a group of Hong Kong people into second-class citizens. This is a hypocritical political manipulation and is doomed to be futile. It urges the British side to recognize the reality and the general trend and immediately stop political manipulation.
The spokesperson also said that the Chinese side should also point out that Britain is not a paradise. It has serious racial discrimination and other social problems.
China has noticed many reports that Hong Kong people have faced discrimination and livelihood difficulties after coming to the UK, and the Chinese Embassy in the UK has also received requests for help from relevant consuls.
The Chinese side hopes that the British side will concentrate on solving its own problems and refrain from making mistakes and misleading the world.
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The spokesperson of the Office of the Special Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong also urged the British side to abandon its old colonial dream, respect history, recognize reality, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, otherwise it will further damage its image and interests in Hong Kong.
The Office of the Special Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hong Kong also issued a statement on the 13th, urging the British to abandon the old colonial dream, respect history, recognize the reality, and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, otherwise it will further damage its image and interests in Hong Kong.
BNO British National (Overseas) Passport Visa