Beijing blocks the HK exodus. Hopefully.
China will no longer recognise the British National Overseas passport. So it’s 2.9 million citizens in Hong Kong citizens, all of them invited to come and settle in Britain from this Sunday but “only” 300,000 anticipated to do so, won’t be able to board a flight (or will be deterred from boarding a flight):
China was branded ‘weak, bullying and petulant’ today as it refused to allow Hong Kong citizens to leave using British passports amid a furious row over UK plans to grant residency to thousands of people.
The communist regime’s foreign ministry today said it would not recognise the British National Overseas passport as a valid travel document.
The sabre-rattling came ahead of a plan to start offering UK residency visas to Hong Kongers from this weekend.
Downing Street today refused to be cowed by the outcry from Beijing and underscored the commitment it made to Hong Kong nationals.
Around 300,000 people are expected to leave Hong Kong for Britain under the new scheme, unveiled by Boris Johnson in the wake of China’s national security law.
But a statement by foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian plunged the visa system into uncertainty just hours after it was announced to be launching on Sunday.
Of course, stopping the exodus is exactly what Brits want. Neoliberal Tories will be outraged. Paeans to the industriousness and enterprise of Hong Kongers have been appearing all over the right-wing press for months. Daniel Hannon even wanted to give them the Isle of Wight.
Posted by mancinblack on Sun, 31 Jan 2021 11:19 | #