My Take | Brits overseas, your government does not have your back

Britain’s grandstanding over the BN(O) passport row belies the reality of its weak and sometimes non-existent protection for its own nationals overseas in general, not just those in Hong Kong. People should look at the whole picture, not just isolated press statements issued by the British consulate in Hong Kong or the foreign office in Westminster.

The local press has made much of the British government’s latest warning to dual Chinese-British nationals that they may not get consular assistance in Hong Kong even if they enter the city on their British passport.

“If you have both British and Chinese nationality you may be treated as a Chinese citizen by local authorities, even if you enter Hong Kong on your British passport. If this is the case, the British consulate may not be able to offer you consular assistance.”

First, the Hong Kong and central governments have NEVER recognised “dual nationality” from any nation, not just Britain, since 1997. But other countries’ passports – including previously the BN(O) passport – can be used as travel documents going in and out of the city. What has changed is that the BN(O) is no longer recognised EVEN as a travel document. That does not, at least for now, affect other foreign passports being used as travel documents by Hong Kong residents.

But if you are a Hong Kong or mainland resident – a Chinese citizen in short – and you hold a foreign passport, it won’t help you if you get into trouble with the authorities because officials would consider you a local resident. They do have discretion to allow you consular access; you have no right to demand it.