China denounces potential BN(O) extension to HK youngsters born after handover

China's foreign ministry has slammed the United Kingdom for cutting off its own nose to spite its face by interfering in Hong Kong affairs with its latest British National (Overseas) proposal.

The British parliament will discuss this week whether to extend the eligibility of BN(O) visas to cover Hong Kong youngsters born after the handover.

In a press conference on Tuesday, foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China opposes British interference into Hong Kong and in China's internal affairs.

What the UK does will harm others without bringing benefit to oneself, and the plan is doomed to fail, he said.

Currently, only those with BN(O) status and their immediate families – estimated to be 5.4 million – can apply for a visa and attain UK citizenship after six years’ residence. Those born after Britain handed the territory over to the Chinese in 1997 and who do not have a parent applying for the scheme are not eligible.

A group of 27 Tory members of the parliament have signed an amendment to the Nationality and Borders Bill, calling for the visa scheme to be expanded to all 18 to 25 year olds, as long as one of their parents has BN(O) status.

They have pointed to research that shows 93 per cent of people who have faced protests-related charges in Hong Kong fall into that age category.

The House of Commons will vote on the amendment on December 7 or 8, and if it is passed, it will then be passed to the House of Lords for further procedures.

Advocacy group Hong Kong Watch said more than 10,200 Hongkongers were arrested in connection to the unrest two years ago. Data showed 93 percent of the more than 1,000 who had been tried by July this year were under the age of 25.

According to British statistics, there have been 88,900 applications for the BN(O) visa in the first three quarters since the plan launched on January 31.

Another 96 Hongkongers have applied for political asylum in the first three quarters.

Hong Kong Watch said there are around 120 Hong Kong asylum seekers in the UK at the moment, and potentially 200 to 300 more people on temporary or expired visitor visas.