On June 1, in Hong Kong, some demonstrators held British Overseas (BNO) passports to protest the Hong Kong version of the National Security Law.
Author: Yan Shu-ki, Special journalist in Hong Kong
A day after the entry into force of the Hong Kong National Security Act, the former Hong Kong home country, the United Kingdom, officially announced that it would provide naturalization to holders of British national (overseas) passports (BNO). Prior to that, two-party councillor in the United States had launched a proposal to give refugee status to Hong Kong residents who might be persecution under the Hong Kong State Security Act. An estimated 3 million Hong Kong people currently hold BNO passports.
British Prime Minister Johnson spoke in parliament on the 1st criticism of the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law and excessive requirements, is a clear and serious violation of the "China-UK Joint Statement ." Mr johnson said it had been clear that the uk would provide BNO holders with new ways to apply for citizen in the uk once china implemented the hong kong version of the national security law, saying "this is exactly what we will do now ".
Foreign Minister Lan Tao-wen, speaking on the parliament after Johnson, introduced the naturalization programme, noting that the "tailor-made" migration route applied to 3 million eligible Hong Kong people and that there was no quota for the programme. The British parliament provides eligible Hong Kong residents with a five-year stay permit during which they have the right to work or study. After five years, they can apply for residency and apply for citizen in 12 months.
Blue Taowen said on the same day, the British side will honour the commitment to BNO holders. Under the UK`s new scheme, BNO holders will be exempted from the six-month limit of stay and then granted a five-year limited residence permit to stay and work in the UK. After five years, they can apply for settlement status and then apply to become a UK citizen. after an additional 12 months
BNO holders and their families in Hong Kong will also be eligible for the new policy, Lan said.
The plan, announced by the british side, is in line with the plan outlined by the home secretary, Priti Patel, in a previous letter to the prime minister, johnson, dated 12 june, in which she recommended that BNO holders and their families be provided with a clear british route of naturalization, i.e. residence in the uk, residence after five years and the right to apply for naturalization after an additional year.
Moreover, according to The Wall Street Journal reports, two-party councillor in the United States have launched a proposal to give refugee status to Hong Kong residents who may suffer under the new National Security Law.
The proposal came just hours after the release of the new national security law in china, the report said, with the senate`s florida republican councillor rubio (Marco Rubio and) new jersey democratic councillor Bob Menendez and the house of representatives` utah republican councillor John Curtis and texas democratic councillor Joaquin Castro, with more than a dozen councillor in both.
The proposal would require the United States Department of State to designate residents of Hong Kong persecution or well-founded fears of persecution for expressing their political views or peace participation in political activities as refugee. in need of special humanitarian care, according to which such privileges would were Chinese citizen, their spouses, children and parents would also enjoy this privilege.
refugee documents can be completed in Hong Kong or a third country, and then refugee can apply for permanent residency and citizen status in the United States. An opportunity that is not subject to current refugee quotas in the United States is valid for five years from the date of passage of the bill.
Before the proposal, called the hong kong safe harbor act (Hong Kong Safe Harbor Act), the us senate last week passed a bipartisan bill that would sanction chinese officials who have eroded hong kong`s limited autonomy, as well as banks and companies with whom they deal.
