The UK announced plans of conducting a major overhaul of its immigration rules in order to allow more than 3 million Hong Kong residents to seek refuge if the city-state ends up passing its controversial security law. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Wednesday that the country will be doing everything it can to make it easier for refugees seeking to obtain British citizenship.
The move comes as countries such as the US, Australia, and Canada face added pressure from human rights groups and other organizations to open their borders to Hong Kong residents. Johnson vowed on Wednesday that the country will continue to support the political freedoms of the residents of its former colony, which it had handed over to China under the terms that it would be given a higher degree of autonomy.
Johnson stated that the policy changes to its immigration rules will immediately be implemented once China formally enacts the new law. The UK plans to grant residencies and working rights to millions of Hong Kong refugees, a move that will likely result in a massive loss of labor and talent in the Asian financial center.
Holders of British National (Overseas), or BNO, passports will be immediately given a renewable period of 12 months. They will also be given the right to work in the UK, with an option to apply for British citizenship. BNO passports were given to people born before 1997, when the city was still under British rule. Holders are currently allowed to visit the UK but are prohibited from working. Currently, more than 350,000 Hong Kong residents hold BNO passports.
The UK has openly criticized the proposed security law, which aims to criminalize offenses such as subversion, foreign interference, and sedition. Johnson reasoned that the passing of such a law essentially gives the UK no other choice but to uphold its commitment to the people of its former colony.
If the law is passed, it would allow security forces from China to operate in the city-state for the first time since it was handed over by the UK. Experts have pointed out that China has been slowly tightening its grip on the city-state following the months of protest on its streets from citizens calling for greater democracy.
China responded to the UK's announcement with the country's Foreign Ministry stating that it had no jurisdiction over Hong Kong. Ministry officials added that the UK should "step back" and halt its meddling of China's internal affairs.
