China To Take Countermeasures If UK Extends Hong Kong Citizenship Plan

London, United Kingdom:

China warned Britain on Thursday it may retaliate with “corresponding measures” for London’s resolution to increase a broader path to citizenship for the residents of Hong Kong.

Britain’s provide got here in response to a sweeping new safety legislation that China unveiled for the previous British territory this week.

Hong Kong was underneath UK jurisdiction till it was handed over to China in 1997 with a assure that Beijing would protect town’s judicial and legislative autonomy for 50 years.

The Chinese embassy in London burdened that “all Chinese compatriots residing in Hong Kong are Chinese nationals”.

The British plan covers virtually three million Hong Kongers who both have a British National Overseas (BNO) passports or are eligible to use for one.

The embassy mentioned these folks have been Chinese nationals as properly.

“If the British side makes unilateral changes to the relevant practice, it will breach its own position and pledges as well as international law and basic norms governing international relations,” it mentioned in a press release.

“We firmly oppose this and reserve the right to take corresponding measures,” it mentioned with out elaborating.

Beijing has by no means publicly raised the opportunity of providing Britons both Chinese citizenship or broader residence rights.

The Chinese assertion concluded by urging London to reassess its resolution and “refrain from interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any way”.

‘Little we are able to do’

Britain had sought nearer relations with China after ending its decades-long membership within the European Union this yr.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s authorities additionally irritated the US administration in January by permitting the non-public Chinese telecoms group Huawei to unroll Britain’s speedy new information community.

But Britain is now learning methods it may possibly lower Huawei out of its system solely and construct up an alliance of European and Asian suppliers that reduces China’s dominance within the subject.

UK media mentioned the Foreign Office summoned the Chinese ambassador to London on Wednesday to specific its issues concerning the legislation.

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab later conceded there could be little London may do if China refuses to permit Hong Kongers to relocate to Britain.

“Ultimately, if they follow through on something like that there would be little that we could do to coercively force them,” Raab instructed ITV tv late Wednesday.

Raab mentioned London may use “diplomatic leverage (and) other ways” to attempt to soften China’s strategy to Hong Kong and never observe by means of on the total power of the sweeping new safety legislation.

Chinese authorities arrested 10 folks underneath the brand new laws throughout protests Wednesday marking the anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to China.

“But ultimately we need to be honest that we wouldn’t be able to force China to allow BNOs to come to the UK,” Raab mentioned.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV workers and is printed from a syndicated feed.)