Beijing hits back after Boris Johnson promises to relax British visa rules for Hongkongers

Name: Boris Johnson vows to change visa system for Hongkongers under national security law
Uploaded: 2020-06-03T10:15:07.000Z
Duration: 3 min 8 s
Description: Boris Johnson vows to change visa system for Hongkongers under national security law

London should ‘abandon its Cold War and colonialist mentality’, foreign ministry says

Britain has ‘recklessly commented on Hong Kong and made groundless accusations to interfere’ in its affairs

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Beijing was angered by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s pledge to make it easier for Hong Kong citizens to live and work in Britain. Photo: Winson Wong

Catherine Wong

Published: 6:15pm, 3 Jun 2020Updated: 4:52am, 4 Jun 2020

Britain should relinquish its colonial and Cold War mentality, China said on Wednesday after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to overhaul his country’s visa system for Hongkongers if Beijing pushes ahead with plans for a national security law for the city.

“The UK has recklessly commented on Hong Kong and made groundless accusations to interfere in Hong Kong affairs,” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said.

“China expresses its strong dissatisfaction and opposition, and has lodged stern representations with the UK.”

His comments came after Johnson said in an opinion piece published in the South China Morning Post and The Times of London on Wednesday that many Hong Kong citizens feared their way of life was under threat after the National People’s Congress (NPC) – Beijing’s rubber-stamp legislature – endorsed a resolution to enact a national security law at its annual session last month.

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Boris Johnson vows to change visa system for Hongkongers under national security law

“If China proceeds to justify their fears, then Britain could not in good conscience shrug our shoulders and walk away; instead we will honour our obligations and provide an alternative,” he said.