The United Kingdom has said that it could be looking to drop Visa restrictions for people in Hong Kong, in response to new legislation by the Chinese government which aims to protect national security curb “secession” in the Special Administrative Region.
The Chinese government said on Friday that the UK could face retaliation if Hong Kongers are offered an eased route to British citizenship following a new national security law introduced by Beijing on the Chinese territory.
Foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China “reserves the right to take corresponding countermeasures” during a press briefing, AFP reports.
No specific threats were made but it comes as China imposes trade tariffs on Australian barley and beef imports as relations between the two countries begin to sour.
The foreign minister's comments follow a statement from his UK counterpart Dominic Raab who suggested that Britain may seek to relax residency directives for people in Hong Kong who hold of ‘British National Overseas' (BNO) passports.
His comments were echoed by Home Secretary Priti Patel who later said in a tweet that she was “deeply concerned” about the new national security legislation and would “explore” a pathway to UK citizenship for Hong Kongers.
The offer received cross-party support with Labour Shadow Foreign Secretary Lisa Nandy saying in a statement that it was “an important first step” in fulfilling our “longstanding obligation” to the people…
