CHINA-HONGKONG: CHINA ANNOUNCES IT WILL NOT RECOGNISE BN(O) PASSPORTS FROM JANUARY 31

South China Morning Post (January 29) disclosed that Beijing will stop recognising British National (Overseas) passports as travel and identification documents from January 31, and may retaliate further against Britain’s offer of a pathway to citizenship for 5.4 million eligible Hongkongers. China’s first official move against Britain over the issue is widely seen as more symbolic than immediately impactful, as Hongkongers do not need BN(O) passports to travel in and out of the city or the country, but it could signal tougher action to come. The Chinese foreign ministry announced Beijing’s decision on January 29, hours after London released details of the application process for the new BN(O) visa scheme that will be officially launched at 5 pm on January 29. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said “China will no longer recognise the BN(O) passport as a valid travel document or for identification, and we reserve the right to take further actions. In disregard of China’s solemn position and the fact that it has been 24 years since Hong Kong returned to the motherland, the British side blatantly violated its commitment, formulated the so-called ‘bespoke’ policy of abode and citizenship in the UK for BN(O)s, and continued to expand its scope of application. The UK’s move grossly violates China’s sovereignty interferes in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs, and runs counter to international law and basic norms governing international relations.” Zhao Lijian also warned that Hongkongers would become “second-class citizens” in Britain, and noted that the BN(O) scheme was no longer the one that had been agreed upon by both sides.





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