China says UK citizenship for Hong Kong violates international law

Chinese Embassy in London on Thursday responded to British policy that grants citizenship to Hong Kong residents saying the move interferes with China’s internal affairs and violates international law.

According to the embassy, the policy severely violated (Britain’s) own commitments, interfered with the internal affairs of China and seriously violated international law and the basic norms of international relations.

Priti Patel, British Interior Minister announced on Wednesday that beginning from 2021, Hong Kong residents with British National Overseas would be able to apply for British special visas which could eventually lead to citizenship.

The move by the Britain was necessitated by China’s imposition of its national security law on Hong Kong, which Britain says violates the 1984 handover treaty and deprives the city the freedoms it was promised in 1997 as a former British colony when it returned to China.

With the policy, about three million Hong Kong people would be allowed to settle in Britain.

Confirming the reason behind Britain’s move, The British Consulate General of Hong Kong said on Thursday that the decision was reached as a result of “Chinese government’s decision to impose a new National Security Law on Hong Kong.”

China embassy therefore urges Britain to look at the security law objectively and to see Hong Kong as part of China.

According to the embassy, the British side is urged to “recognize the reality that Hong Kong has returned to China, to look at the Hong Kong national security law objectively and immediately correct its mistakes.”