Political situation
Written by: Luo Jiaqing
2021-01-29 20:38
Last update date: 2021-01-29 20:39
In response to the political situation in Hong Kong, the United Kingdom previously relaxed the BNO application for naturalization qualifications, allowing Hong Kong people to apply for naturalization within a "5+1" period. The measure will take effect on January 31.
At a regular press conference today (29th), Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian announced that starting from January 31st, China will no longer recognize BNO passports as travel documents and identity certificates, and reserves the right to take further measures.
The SAR government announced in the evening that it will fully cooperate with the country’s countermeasures and adopt four measures, including BNO passports cannot be used for entry and exit from Hong Kong, cannot be used as any form of identification in Hong Kong, and when passengers board flights to Hong Kong, aviation Companies are required to produce their SAR passport or Hong Kong ID card as proof, and non-Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents who do not hold other valid travel documents can apply for a visa ID for international travel.
A spokesperson for the SAR government stated that the Chinese and British governments have long agreed on how to deal with Hong Kong residents holding British National (Overseas) passports (ie BNOs). They exchanged a memorandum in 1984 to confirm that the British side clearly promised not to hold them. Hong Kong Chinese citizens with British National (Overseas) passports have the right of abode in the UK.
The spokesperson criticized that the current practice of the British side has substantially changed the nature of the British National (Overseas) passport, which fundamentally violated the British side's commitment in the memorandum.
The UK’s breach of its commitment first, and my country’s countermeasures against this, it is only natural that China’s failure to recognize the British National (Overseas) passport as a valid travel document does not violate China’s commitment in the memorandum, and the National People’s Congress Standing Committee’s The interpretation of several issues concerning the implementation of the Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region emphasizes that the central government’s current position and policy regarding violations of its commitments by the British side are diplomatic acts and central authority. The Special Administrative Region Government will fully cooperate with the implementation of relevant policies. Specific measures.
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BNO British National (Overseas) Passport