(Observer Network) Recently, the British government has once again intervened in Hong Kong affairs and hyped the topic of British National (Overseas) Passport (BNO), in an attempt to provide convenience for Hong Kong rioters to escape. On the 10th, Hong Kong Executive Council member and former Secretary for Security Bureau, Liu Shuyi, proposed countermeasures, suggesting the cancellation of Hong Kong people's "dual nationality" and demanding "choose one of two" between foreign nationality and Hong Kong's right to live.
Ip Liu Shuyi wrote in the South China Morning Post that the central government has long been tolerant of Hong Kong people who hold "dual nationality" status for historical reasons. China's Nationality Law clearly stipulates that "the People's Republic of China does not recognize that Chinese citizens have dual nationality."
Ip Lillei’s data picture Hong Kong “East Net”
The British government, in response to the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, insisted on relaxing the immigration policy of receiving BNO passport holders despite China’s opposition, undermining support for Hong Kong. She suggested that it was time for the central government to resolve this historical issue and cancel the special treatment of "dual nationality" in Hong Kong.
Irish Liu Shuyi suggested that can select a deadline. Since then, Hong Kong people who have obtained foreign nationality through immigration and other means will waive Chinese nationality based on Article 9 of the Nationality Law. As for marking time, she said it would be decided by the central government.
Ip Liu Shuyi emphasized that people will automatically lose the right to hold a SAR passport, and may also lose the right to vote in Hong Kong residence and Hong Kong elections. means they can only choose one of the two in terms of foreign nationality and Hong Kong residence.
Ip said that this only represents her personal opinion, and the prohibition of Hong Kong people from "dual nationality" does not require the legislation to be amended. One of the feasible methods is to interpret the Nationality Law by the National People's Congress.
Articles 9 to 10 of the Nationality Law stipulate that Chinese citizens who settled abroad voluntarily join or obtain foreign nationality do not have Chinese nationality; at the same time, they are close relatives of foreigners, settled in a foreign country, and have other legitimate reasons. As long as they have one of the above conditions, those who apply to withdraw from Chinese nationality are not Chinese nationality approved.
According to the above provisions, there are two ways to lose Chinese nationality: one is to automatically lose, because of settlement abroad and obtaining foreign nationality; the other is to voluntarily withdraw, and get approval for applying to withdraw from Chinese nationality.
When asked whether this move would cause shock in Hong Kong, Ip said that those who want to immigrate should consider the price they have to pay. She criticized some foreign governments for their intention to encourage Hong Kong people to immigrate in order to absorb their funds and hoped that Hong Kong people would go to the local area to work as cheap laborers. The UK is one of the examples.
After the implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law in July last year, the British government proposed a "5+1" immigration plan for British National (Overseas) Passport (BNO) holders. In October, it announced that it would open to accept applications for qualified Hong Kong people to stay in the UK from the end of January this year.
htmlOn January 6, British Foreign Secretary Raab continued to make remarks about the Hong Kong National Security Law, threatening to continue to "provide the right to live and work in the UK" for Hong Kong BNO passport holders. Previously, several Hong Kong rioters have fled abroad against bail. Former Hong Kong's "Democratic Party" chairman Hu Zhiwei, who was arrested on suspicion of "subversion of state power", was recently found hiding a BNO passport at home and was revoked by the court to remand the bail.A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the UK said that China and the UK had exchanged memorandums on the issue of BNO passports. The UK has made it clear that it will not grant Hong Kong Chinese citizens holding BNO passports the right to reside in the UK. Despite China's strong opposition, the British side insisted on unilaterally changing the relevant practices, which clearly violated its own commitments and violated international law and basic norms of international relations. We firmly oppose this and will take corresponding measures, and all the consequences caused by this will be borne by the British side.
According to the Global Times, Hong Kong Legislative Council member and barrister Liang Meifen said that in the past, in order to make Hong Kong people confident of "one country, two systems", the United Kingdom and the United States are so provocative. Even if the central government terminates the treatment, it is only a reasonable and legal diplomatic response, because according to Annex 3 of the Basic Law, the national law applicable to Hong Kong, the Nationality Law, is not allowed to have "dual nationality".
Vice President of the National Hong Kong and Macau Research Association Liu Zhaojia said that as far as he knows, the central government is also discussing relevant solutions, especially whether the rights and obligations of Hong Kong people are still only linked to Hong Kong permanent resident identity , rather than divided by nationality. Moreover, based on the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong", "dual nationality" can still run for Legislative Council members and vote under the current mechanism, or it may be out of place. If the problem remains unchanged, it will also worsen the situation of external forces interfering in Hong Kong affairs.
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