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UK to offer new route to citizenship for Hong Kongers as China passes new security law

A police officer raises his pepper spray handgun as he detains a man during a march against the national security law at the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China from Britain in Hong Kong: REUTERS
A police officer raises his pepper spray handgun as he detains a man during a march against the national security law at the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China from Britain in Hong Kong: REUTERS

Britain is to offer a new path to UK citizenship for Hong Kongers with British National (Overseas) status in response to China’s new security law.

Boris Johnson told MPs that he would introduce a new route after China’s actions overnight.

The new law constitutes a “clear and serious breach” of the UK-China treaty, the prime minister said.

He said the government had made clear that if China took this action then it would respond.

“That is precisely what we will do now.”

Earlier, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said the new laws published by China constitute "a clear violation" of the autonomy of Hong Kong and a “direct threat to the freedoms of its people”.

He also echoed Mr Johnson’s words, saying: “Therefore, I'm afraid to say, it is a clear and serious violation of the joint declaration - the treaty between the United Kingdom and China."

Mr Raab warned China was not "living up to its promises" on the freedom to peacefully protest in Hong Kong.

He added: “We fought very hard and we negotiated with the Chinese back in the 1980s to have the freedom for peaceful protest and freedom of expression to be respected.

"China through this national security legislation is not living up to its promises to the people of Hong Kong. We will live up to our promises to them."

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