Photo taken on July 14, 2020 shows the Golden Bauhinia Square in south China s Hong Kong, July 14, 2020.The UK move, in an attempt to turn a large number of Hong Kong people into second-class British citizens, is a blatant offence to China s sovereignty, said the spokesperson for the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, expressing firm opposition to it.
RFA
A U.K. visa center in Hong Kong has extended its opening hours to cope with increased demand after the British government launched a new pathway to residency and citizenship for some five million residents of the city, amid a citywide crackdown on public dissent and political opposition.
The visa center in the Lee Man Commercial Centre in Hong Kong s North Point district recently extended its opening hours to run from 7.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m., with at least four families applying to go to the U.K. in the space of a single hour on Monday.
Under a scheme launched on Sunday, millions of holders of the British National Overseas (BNO) passport once derided as carrying very few benefits will be allowed to live, study, and work in the U.K., with a path to permanent residency after five years and to citizenship after six.
The central government's top body overseeing Hong Kong affairs voiced strong objections on Sunday to the United Kingdom for breaking its promise on the British National Overseas passport with a plan to grant BNO passport holders UK citizenship.
Path to British citizenship opens for millions of Hong Kongers
By
Sunday Jan 31, 2021
British National (Overseas) passport holders and their dependents can apply online for a visa allowing them to live and work in the UK
Such people can then apply for citizenship after five years
China reacts with fury, says it will no longer recognise the passports as a legitimate travel or ID document
HONG KONG: Millions of Hong Kongers are being offered a pathway to British citizenship and the chance to escape what is being termed a crackdown on dissent in the city.
Anyone with a British National (Overseas) passport and their dependents can now apply online for a visa allowing them to live and work in the United Kingdom. After five years, they can apply for citizenship.