China firmly opposes Britain’s offer of residency rights to Hongkongers and warns of ‘corresponding measures’
- China’s embassy in Britain says offer of residency rights and path to citizenship violated 1984 memorandums of understanding regarding sovereignty over city
- Lawyer says Hongkongers can choose whether to apply for British citizenship but were never given a choice about Chinese citizenship
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said the British moves violated the norms of international relations, and China reserved the right to take countermeasures. “The UK has to bear all the consequences of this,” he said.
The Chinese embassy in the United Kingdom also claimed on Thursday that Britain’s move violated 1984 memorandums of understanding exchanged between London and Beijing regarding the status of Hongkongers after sovereignty over the city was transferred to Beijing in 1997.
According to the memorandums, people in Hong Kong born before the 1997 handover are eligible for British National (Overseas) passports, a class of British citizenship that does not confer right of abode in Britain.
“If the British side insists on unilaterally changing the relevant practices, this not only violates its own position and commitments, but violates international law and the foundation of international relations,” the Chinese embassy spokesperson said, adding that Hong Kong citizens were Chinese nationals. “We firmly oppose this and reserve the right to take corresponding measures.”