Why Britain’s citizenship offer is a favour to Hong Kong – and China

Hongkongers have in the past sought foreign citizenship as an insurance policy
The UK’s offer to almost half of Hong Kong is unlikely to give rise to a wave of migration. Conversely, it makes people more willing to stay in Hong Kong

Albert Cheng

Published: 6:00am, 24 Jul 2020

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Since last year’s anti-extradition movement, the “if we burn, you burn with us” mentality has become the consensus of radical localists. Beijing, as a result, forced through a national security law for Hong Kong.

Western powers immediately imposed sanctions related to Hong Kong. Overnight, some Hongkongers started panicking. Businesses like immigration consultancies and overseas property agencies expect to make a fortune as they think there will be another wave of migration to countries like Britain, Australia and Canada.

The previous wave of migration was triggered by the 1997 handover. The Sino-British Joint Declaration signed in 1984 did not grant British residency to Hong Kong residents with BN(O) passports, which Beijing recognised only as travel documents.

After the Tiananmen crackdown, Hongkongers felt doomed. They flocked to secure foreign passports of all kinds. Many wanted to flee the city.

To regain people’s confidence, the business sector and government in Hong Kong then convinced Britain to grant citizenship to 50,000 Hong Kong civil servants and professionals. But many others were required to go through the immigration agencies; they paid a high price for what was essentially an insurance policy.

01:38

UK offers Hongkongers with BN(O) passports path to citizenship after new national security law

This time, however, London has offered 3 million Hong Kong residents a path to British citizenship. BN(O) passport holders can now apply to enter or remain in Britain for an initial period of 30 months, extendable by a further 30 months, or a single period of five years. They can become British residents after living there for 5 years, then apply for citizenship the next year.

No one born after 1997 is entitled to a BN(O) passport, and it does not pass down through the generations. However, BN(O) passport holders can now remain in Britain with immediate dependants like spouses or civil partners, and children under the age of 18.

Hongkongers lose taste for overseas property elsewhere amid BN(O) offer

The British government has done Hong Kong residents a brilliant favour this time. Almost half of Hong Kong’s population are eligible for this offer of British residency rights. Many feel more settled, knowing Britain has opened an escape route.

In fact, this makes Hong Kong talent more willing to stay and work in Hong Kong: after all, the city is still one of the most prosperous economies in the world. Hence, a new wave of migration might not materialise any time soon.

Predictably, however, the Chinese government has protested against the British government’s offer of residency rights to BN(O) passport holders, saying the move violated the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

This is quite ridiculous, given that not too long ago, when the British expressed concerns over China’s national security law for Hong Kong, the very same Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said Beijing was not legally bound to uphold the declaration.

02:34

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Whether or not China’s response is mere political gesturing, the Chinese government should know well that Britain’s recent commitment to Hong Kong residents has paradoxically safeguarded Hong Kong’s economy and social stability.

Besides the offer made by Britain, countries like Australia, Japan and Canada are also weighing the possibility of broadening their immigration policies with regard to Hong Kong. With all these new options, Hong Kong’s pro-establishment camp should stop pointing fingers at Britain.

Over the past year, Hong Kong’s anti-government movement has been extremely active on the international stage. Although members of the movement have been criticised for “collusion” with foreign powers, which is now an offence under the national security law, they have also elevated the status of Hongkongers in the world. People from Hong Kong will be welcomed as immigrants who add value, rather than as refugees.

Hong Kong has been through a rough year. But even though freedom of speech is evaporating and the rule of law is collapsing in Hong Kong, foreign countries are giving Hongkongers different options. With such safety nets, Hongkongers can afford the luxury of not compromising – of continuing to fight for their beliefs.

Albert Cheng King-hon is a political commentator

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