Hong Kong: Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab tells China to 'step back from the brink'
The government will look to provide a "pathway to citizenship" for British National (Overseas) passport holders in Hong Kong.
Tuesday 2 June 2020 13:34, UK
China has been told to "reconsider" and "step back from the brink" over the imposition of a controversial new security law on Hong Kong.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab warned Beijing on Tuesday of the UK's likely response if the legislation is enforced, having said last week he was prepared to extend visa rights to as many as 30,000 Hong Kong citizens.
There are fears China's proposed law will undermine the former British territory's freedom and is aimed at quashing defiance against the mainland, including by allowing Beijing to set up its own intelligence agencies in the special administrative region.
Thousands of people have already appeared on Hong Kong's streets to protest.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Raab told MPs: "There is time for China to reconsider, there is a moment for China to step back from the brink and respect Hong Kong's autonomy and respect China's own international obligations.
"If China continues down this current path, if it enacts this national security law, we will consider what further response we make, working with those international partners and others."
The foreign secretary confirmed the government would look to provide a "pathway to citizenship" for British National (Overseas) passport holders in Hong Kong if China passes the security laws.
He said: "The UK has historic responsibilities, a duty I would say, to the people of Hong Kong.
"So I can tell the House now that if China enacts this law, we will change the arrangements for British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport holders in Hong Kong."
He added: "If China follows through with its proposed legislation, we will put in place new arrangements to allow BNOs to come to the UK without the current six-month limit, enabling them to live and apply to study and work for extendable periods of 12 months, thereby also providing a pathway to citizenship."
Mr Raab told MPs that the proposed security law would breach China's commitments to a "one country, two systems" model that was enshrined in the deal that saw Hong Kong pass back to China from Britain in 1997.
"We have not yet seen the detailed, published text of the legislation," the foreign secretary said.
"But I can tell the House that if legislation in these terms is imposed by China on Hong Kong it would violate China's own basic law.
"It would up-end China's one country, two systems paradigm and it would be a clear violation of China's international obligations, including those specifically made to the UK under the joint declaration."
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Mr Raab said the UK was "not seeking to intervene in China's internal affairs", but wanted Beijing "to uphold China to its international commitments just as China expects of the UK".
Labour's shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy called for the government to "step up" its response to China and be "far more proactive".
She told MPs: "It is time for an international democratic alliance to come together and speak with one voice."