Australian government allegedly intended to use a technical visa as a means of bringing Hong Kong people to Australia. (Photo of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Hong kongers who hope to leave china are said to be on track to get a quick trip to australia through the technology immigration visa scheme.
This is one of the plans the Australian Cabinet will consider next week, the Australian newspaper reported. The Hong Kong police have arrest hundreds of protest demonstration in accordance with the law after the National People`s Congress passed the National Security Law of Hong Kong on Tuesday, June 30.
Australian Prime Minister Morrison (Scott Morrison) said on Thursday that Australia was considering "action to support Hong Kong people at risk ".
Although Australia is said not to rule out the possibility of providing "safe haven" asylum visas to Hong Kong residents, the Australian newspaper said that although Australia is currently suspending the approval of technical immigration visas due to the new crown epidemic, this type of visa would be a shortcut for Hong Kong residents to come to Australia.
"There`s a plan I asked for a few weeks ago, but it`s going to have to be polished ," Morrison said Thursday. "
"The Cabinet will soon consider it and provide similar opportunities (as in the United Kingdom). "
On wednesday, british prime minister johnson (Boris Johnson) pledged to open the border to more than 3 million hong kongers with british national (overseas) passports (BNO) if they want to leave hong kong.
The Australian Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade are said to have prepared options with the Cabinet. government lawer are also studying feasibility from a law perspective.
About 100,000 Australians currently live or work in Hong Kong, the second largest overseas residence for Australians.
Mr Morrison said Australia had consistently maintained that the safeguards in place when Britain handed over Hong Kong to China should be maintained and that "I think this is a very reasonable and consistent position. "
A senior figure in the australian government said mr morrison was already discussing the possibility of using skilled migration as a mechanism after he asked the cabinet two weeks ago to offer a plan to bring hong kongers to australia.
With regard to "safe haven visas ", although in 2015 Albert (Tony Abbott), then Prime Minister, had issued a special humanitarian visa to 12,000 Syrian refugee at one time, it was not expected that similar arrangements would be offered to Hong Kong people. However, Australia may also grant asylum visas to some Hong Kong residents facing prosecution under the Hong Kong National Security Act.
Arson has been committed in demonstration activities in Hong Kong, which is now classified as terrorism-related. (Photo of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation)
Australia has long considered accepting Hong Kong people, Australia and China relationship expect to be worse
Australia is said to have been considering issues since China began discussing the Hong Kong National Security Law, a move strongly supported by backseat councillor.
Wilson (Tim Wilson), a liberal councillor backseat who took part in street parade in hong kong last year, said he "very much welcomed" government considered accepting hong kongers and said "liberal democrats in australia and hong kong share common values and aspirations that will provide a safer and freer environment. "
Patterson (James Paterson), another liberal councillor, said that "it is hard for Australia to imagine a potential immigrant group that would be more attractive than Hong Kong people" and that "Hong Kong people are creative, hardworking, entrepreneurial and highly consistent with our values in terms of freedom of speech and the rule of law. It would be a blessing to have them. "
Mr brand (Ben Bland), head of the roy institute`s south-east asia project, thinks australia is attractive to those who want to leave hong kong because it has not only economic development opportunities and a high quality of life, but also a large hong kong community.
"But a lot of Hong Kong people want to stay and fight for the future of their city ," he said ." It`s not easy to get away from family, friends, and shelter, and leave forever. "
Australia`s plan to accept hong kong residents is likely to add insult to injury to the currently cold relationship.
The BBC`s journalist question at a regular journalist meeting in China on Wednesday: The Australian government said today that it was planning to formally provide "asylum" or similar measures to Hong Kong residents, and that the plan was still in preparation. But the prime minister said they were indeed considering the matter. What is China`s comment?
China Ministry of Foreign Affairs speaker Zhao Lijian responded: We noted the reports. We urge Australia to look at Hong Kong`s National Security Law correctly and objectively, to stop immediately interfering in China`s internal affairs through the so-called Hong Kong issue, and not to go further and further on the wrong path.
