China has accused the UK of hypocrisy and political maneuvering Friday after Britain introduced a new five-year visa for Hong Kong residents culminating in a pathway to settlement and citizenship from January 2021.

"[We] firmly oppose the British government's breach of its commitment by willfully pushing ahead a new BN(O) visa policy," a representative for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday. "Doomed is any attempt by the UK to meddle with Hong Kong affairs."

The five-year visa for British National (Overseas) passport holders and their close family, announced four months after a Beijing-sponsored Hong Kong national security law was enacted, will allow Hong Kongers to subsequently apply for settlement and later citizenship in the UK.

"The imposition of the National Security Law on Hong Kong marked a clear erosion of the rights and freedoms for the people of this city," the British Consul-General to Hong Kong, Andrew Heyn, said Thursday.

The foreign affairs representative hit back against this characterization, which it called "groundless accusations against the security law."

"The UK has...tried to vilify the national security law, only to expose its intention to sow trouble in Hong Kong and China at large," the Chinese government statement continued.

But the two countries are inextricably linked after more than a hundred years of colonial occupation, which ended in the 1997 handover. Preceding the return of Chinese control, the UK launched its British National (Overseas) passport scheme for Hong Kong residents born before the handover.

The weight of such passports is debatable and two BNO holders are among the 12 Hong Kongers currently being held by mainland authorities following a thwarted flight to Taiwan. Still, many city residents have turned to the UK government for support as the CCP tightens its grip on the city and welcomed the visa announcement Thursday.

"The UK has a strong history with the people of Hong Kong," said UK Home Secretary Priti Patel in a statement. "[Foreign Affairs Secretary] Dominic Raab and I are keeping our promise and upholding their freedoms."

However, the total cost for the visa has come under fire as an unnecessary hurdle for people fleeing political instability in the region and some, like Hong Kong-based activist group Stand With HK, are pressing for its reduction.

The five-year BNO visa will come in at 250 British pounds per person, but applicants must pay an immigration health surcharge that costs 2,000 pounds.