Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Aug 04, 2025

China will consider not recognizing British National Overseas (BNO) passports as valid travel documents anymore, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin warns.

Central government lashes out at London move paving the way for millions of Hongkongers to settle in Britain. Beijing response will do little to put off those wanting to emigrate, say observers who see UK’s offer as more generous than expected

Beijing threatened on Thursday to stop recognising British National (Overseas) passports in retaliation for London advancing plans to open its doors to Hongkongers holding the status, as city officials offered their full support for the central government’s response.

China’s reaction did not dampen the resolve of some Hong Kong residents to emigrate, with scholars, advocates and immigration consultants describing the British offer for the city’s document holders as more generous than expected and Beijing’s comeback as largely symbolic.

The British Home Secretary Priti Patel on Wednesday revealed that Hongkongers with BN(O) papers wishing to move to the United Kingdom would be exempt from its income threshold requirements and allowed to stay for up to five years, at which point they could apply for full citizenship.

The move infuriated Beijing, as a Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman accused London on Thursday of meddling in China’s internal affairs.

“The British side has ignored the solemn representation lodged by China, deliberately resorting to political manipulation on the issue of BN(O), openly defying its pledges and violating international law and fundamental principles,” spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily press briefing in Beijing.

“As the British side violates its pledges in the first place, the Chinese side will consider stopping recognising BN(O) as a valid travel document while reserving the rights for further measures.”

The Hong Kong government subsequently issued a “solemn declaration” backing the Beijing response, saying: “The special administrative government hereby renders support and full cooperation.”

It accused Britain of breaching the Sino-British Joint Declaration, signed by the then Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang and UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher in 1984 and laying the foundations of the “one country, two systems” governing principle for Hong Kong, under which the city is ruled from Beijing but promised a measure of autonomy.

On signing the declaration, the British government pledged not to confer the right of abode on BN(O) holders who are Chinese nationals in Hong Kong.

Britain has repeatedly referred to the document when asserting its responsibilities in relation to Hong Kong, although Beijing has called the treaty outdated.

But on Thursday a Hong Kong government spokesman accused London of hypocrisy by pursuing its offer for BN(O) holders.

“The British government has deliberately violated the memorandum pledged by the UK at the time of Sino-British Joint Declaration and ignored the Chinese side’s stern objection and repeated representations,” the spokesman said.

BN(O) rights advocate Wilson Li Chung-chak, who has conducted research into how different countries view the travel document, said Beijing’s move was likely to be symbolic rather than having any real impact.

He said Hong Kong people entering mainland China would typically use the home return permit, a visa granted by the mainland government, rather than their BN(O) papers.

Former Hong Kong secretary for security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee said if China’s foreign ministry proceeded with the move, the city’s Immigration Department might instruct flight companies to stop selling tickets to holders of the invalidated BN(O).

But Andrew Lo, chief executive at Anlex, a Hong Kong-based immigration consultancy firm, said Beijing’s threatened intervention would not stop Hongkongers moving to Britain.

“As long as the UK and other governments still recognise BN(O), the impact of Beijing’s statement will be small in reality,” he said.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the plans in May to offer holders of BN(O) passports a path to British citizenship, if Beijing ploughed ahead with its plan to impose on the city a national security law, which took effect at the end of last month.
The details revealed by the British government on Thursday extended its proposal to cover not just the 300,000 or so BN(O) holders, but an estimated 2.9 million eligible Hongkongers.

The actual passport is no longer needed, according to the Home Office, so long as the applicant has the BN(O) status.
Wilson Chan Wai-shun, from research group Global Studies Institute Hong Kong, said the offer from the UK government was wider than expected and had a broad definition of BN(O) holders’ dependants.

"For instance, the definition of a dependant included not just couples who have got married but people cohabiting for more than two years may be covered too,” Chan said.

The definition also covered young people born after 1997, making them ineligible for BN(O). Some of them might be considered too old to be deemed dependants of their passport-holding parents, but the UK authorities said there was room for discretion.

While agreeing the UK’s proposal was “very generous”, Jason Yu Wai-lung, chief immigration consultant at Smart2Go, said more clarifications would be needed in a few areas.

He queried whether an applicant’s children would be allowed to go to a state school or if they had to be privately educated, incurring hefty fees. “These little details could make all the difference,” Yu said.

Owen Tang, 20, said he planned to study in Britain next year. Born after 1997, he is not eligible for a BN(O) passport, but his mother has one. “We have talked about it. Let’s see what happens.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Pilots Call for Mental Health Support Without Stigma
All Five Trapped Miners Found Dead After El Teniente Mine Collapse
Ong Beng Seng Pleads Guilty in Corruption Case Linked to Former Singapore Transport Minister
BP’s Largest Oil and Gas Find in 25 Years Uncovered Offshore Brazil
Italy Fines Shein One Million Euros for Misleading Sustainability Claims
JPMorgan and Coinbase Unveil Partnership to Let Chase Cardholders Buy Crypto Directly
Declassified Annex Links Soros‑Affiliated Officials and Clinton Campaign to ‘Russiagate’ Narrative
UK's Online Safety Law: A Front for Censorship
Nationwide Protests Erupt in Brazil Demanding Presidential Resignation
Parents Abandon Child at Barcelona Airport Over Passport Issue
Mystery Surrounds Death of Brazilian Woman with iPhones Glued to Her Body
Bus Driver Discovers Toddler Hidden in Suitcase in New Zealand
Switzerland Celebrates 734 Years of Independence Amid Global Changes
U.S. Opens Official Investigation into Former Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
Leaked audio of Canada's new PM Mark Carney admitting the truth about the Net Zero agenda: "We're gonna make a lot of money off of this."
China Enforces Comprehensive Ban on Cryptocurrency Activities
Absolutely 100% Realistic EVO Series Doll by EXDOLL (Chinese Company) used mainly for carnal purposes
World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab: "In this new world, we must accept... total transparency. You have to get used to it. You have to behave accordingly. But if you have nothing to hide, you shouldn't be afraid."
Meet Mufti Hamid Patel, head of Office for Standards in Education in Pakistan
George Soros tells the World Economic Forum: "President Trump is a con man and the ultimate narcissist, who wants the world to revolve around him."
Hamas are STARVING the hostages.
Decline in Tourism in Majorca Amidst Ongoing Anti-Tourism Protests
British Tourist Dies Following Hair Transplant in Turkey, Police Investigate
Poland Begins Excavation at Dziemiany After New Clue to World War II‑Era Nazi Treasure
WhatsApp Users Targeted in New Scam Involving Account Takeovers
Trump Threatens Canada with Tariffs Over Palestinian State Recognition
Trump Deploys Nuclear Submarines After Threats from Former Russian President Medvedev
Trump Sues Murdoch in “Heavyweight Bout”: Lawsuit Over Alleged Epstein Letter Sets Stage for Courtroom Showdown
Germany Enters Fiscal Crisis as Cabinet Approves €174 Billion in New Debt
Trump Administration Finalizes Broad Tariff Increases on Global Trade Partners
J.K. Rowling Limits Public Engagements Citing Safety Fears
JD.com Launches €2.2 Billion Bid for German Electronics Retailer Ceconomy
Azerbaijan Proceeds with Plan to Legalise Casinos on Artificial Islands
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
×