UK offers citizenship to Hong Kong residents

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53246899

Up to three million Hong Kong residents are to be offered the chance to settle in the UK and ultimately apply for citizenship, Boris Johnson has said.

The PM said Hong Kong's freedoms were being violated by a new security law and those affected would be offered a "route" out of the former UK colony.

About 350,000 UK passport holders, and 2.6 million others eligible, will be able to come to the UK for five years.

And after a further year, they will be able to apply for citizenship.

British National Overseas Passport holders in Hong Kong were granted special status in the 1980s but currently have restricted rights and are only entitled to visa-free access to the UK for six months.

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Glad to see this . China's actions in Hong Kong over the past year have been dreadful - and, given that these people were British subjects until comparatively recently (1997), I think it's only fair that we lend them a helping hand.

Of course, it remains to be seen how many will take us up on our offer - but, I hope a significant number will.

@Kyng wrote:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53246899

Up to three million Hong Kong residents are to be offered the chance to settle in the UK and ultimately apply for citizenship, Boris Johnson has said.

The PM said Hong Kong's freedoms were being violated by a new security law and those affected would be offered a "route" out of the former UK colony.

About 350,000 UK passport holders, and 2.6 million others eligible, will be able to come to the UK for five years.

And after a further year, they will be able to apply for citizenship.

British National Overseas Passport holders in Hong Kong were granted special status in the 1980s but currently have restricted rights and are only entitled to visa-free access to the UK for six months.

---

Glad to see this . China's actions in Hong Kong over the past year have been dreadful - and, given that these people were British subjects until comparatively recently (1997), I think it's only fair that we lend them a helping hand.

Of course, it remains to be seen how many will take us up on our offer - but, I hope a significant number will.

This is good to hear. The unrest there has been dreadful and it's time for something to happen. I'm glad it's happening with the UK trying to help people! Much respect!

Thanks !

Predictably, China has retaliated against us, warning us against "interference" in the matter:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-53307327

Ironic, considering Hong Kong's 1997 deal with China was supposed to stop China from interfering in Hong Kong's affairs for at least 50 years - and we're not even halfway through that...

@Kyng wrote:Thanks !

Predictably, China has retaliated against us, warning us against "interference" in the matter:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-53307327

Ironic, considering Hong Kong's 1997 deal with China was supposed to stop China from interfering in Hong Kong's affairs for at least 50 years - and we're not even halfway through that...

WOW! That's got to suck big time, and you guys are just doing what you feel is the right thing!

@The Last Outlaw wrote:

@Kyng wrote:Thanks !

Predictably, China has retaliated against us, warning us against "interference" in the matter:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-53307327

Ironic, considering Hong Kong's 1997 deal with China was supposed to stop China from interfering in Hong Kong's affairs for at least 50 years - and we're not even halfway through that...

WOW!  That's got to suck big time, and you guys are just doing what you feel is the right thing!

Yeah, it does.

Most likely, it'd be some kind of economic sanctions - but, since we're already being hit by COVID-19, *and* already being hit by Brexit, that could hurt a lot...