British government blasts Beijing over threat to stop recognising Hong Kong BN(O) passports

British embassy says ending recognition of the documents would be a breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration

Beijing’s proposed act of retaliation for London’s immigration offer to Hongkongers is one of several reportedly being considered

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Sino-British relations have been further strained by the issue of immigration rights for Hong Kong’s BN(O) status holders. Photo: Reuters

Published: 12:22am, 21 Jan 2021Updated: 12:41pm, 2 Feb 2021

London has reacted angrily to Beijing’s threat to stop recognising the British National (Overseas) passport as a valid travel document, a proposed reprisal against the Western nation for offering Hongkongers a pathway to citizenship.

Officials on Wednesday warned President Xi Jinping’s administration that carrying out such a threat would be “in direct contravention” of the Sino-British Joint Declaration signed by both sides ahead of the city’s return to Chinese sovereignty in 1997.

The British embassy’s statement came amid media reports that Beijing could discuss ways of retaliating against the BN(O) visa scheme during the ongoing meeting in the capital of China’s top legislative body, the National People’s Congress Standing Committee.

According to sources, the countermeasures could include banning those with BN(O) status from public office or even denying them the right to vote, as the Post exclusively reported.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor said the government would cooperate with any response from Beijing to the BN(O) issue. Photo: May Tse

Beijing has repeatedly criticised London’s visa scheme as a breach of the joint declaration, and threatened to withdraw recognition of the BN(O) passport in retaliation.