My Take | Right of abode in Britain never on the cards for Hongkongers
Revelation that Britain put pressure on Portugal not to grant nationality to Macau residents ahead of handover is interesting but meaningless; a treaty had already been signed to deny Hong Kong people a full British passport
The denial of Hong Kong people the right to live in Britain as former colonial subjects is back in the news. First there was the plea last year by former Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown to grant us right of abode should civil liberties deteriorate. The elderly politician overrated the attractions of his country and was misinformed about the political realities of Hong Kong. Still, he was well-meaning, if a tad condescending.
Now, there is more substantial revelation from newly declassified documents taken from the British cabinet files deposited in the National Archives in London.
Apparently, Britain tried to put pressure on Portugal not to grant right of abode or full nationality to its colonial residents in Macau to prevent Hong Kong people from asking for the same treatment ahead of the return to Chinese rule of the two cities.
From the looks of it, it didn’t try very hard; and it failed.
Some people in Hong Kong are shocked. I am not sure why they should be. That had been part and parcel of British policy towards Hong Kong, which is even codified in the Sino-British Joint Declaration under which the city was returned to the mainland.