BNO passport ban weighed to counter British move

Ca
rine Chow and Michael ShumChina is considering banning British National (Overseas) passport holders from using it as a travel document - in retaliation to the United Kingdom introducing a pathway to citizenship for millions of Hongkongers.

If the ban is imposed, it would mean Hong Kong immigration officers would stop allowing people to use BNO passports when leaving the SAR and Hongkongers would no longer be able to use the passport to travel overseas.

Currently, there are about 350,000 Hongkongers holding a BNO passport, while another 2.6 million are eligible to apply. They can stay in the UK for six months without the need for a visa.

"The UK's political manipulation over the BNO issue has blatantly broken their promise with China, interfering with Hong Kong's and China's internal affairs. We express our strong opposition," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said.

"As the UK was first to political disregard the promise, China is considering not viewing the BNO passport as a valid travel document."

The Chinese embassy in London also released a statement, accusing the British government of breaching the Sino-British Joint Declaration by offering BNO holders the right of abode and application for citizenship.

"This violated international law and the basic norms governing international relations," a spokesman said.

Beijing deemed London's action "self-defeating," and urged it to immediately correct its mistakes.

The Hong Kong government also weighed in last night as it slammed Britain's move as "hypocritical."

A spokesman said: "As it is Britain which broke the promise [in the Sino-British Joint Declaration], the SAR government supports and will fully cooperate with the foreign ministry to revoke the validity of BNO passports as travel documents."

"The SAR government expresses its discontent and opposition toward Britain's move, which is pure political manipulation, and urges London to stop interfering with the SAR's internal affairs."

Tourism sector lawmaker Yiu Si-wing, who also heads China Travel Service, said China's ban would not have a huge impact on Hongkongers as the SAR passports are more commonly used.

Emigration agent Benny Cheung Ka-hei said BNO passport holders might have better treatment in Europe, although visa-free access is available to SAR passport holders in 168 countries, compared to 118 for the BNO passport.

Some countries could not distinguish BNO passports from British national passports and may give their holders the same treatment as Europeans.

Under the new arrangement announced on Wednesday, they can apply for a special visa starting next year, which will allow them to study or work in the United Kingdom for five years. Full British citizenship can then be applied for 12 months after the five-year stay.

The British government also said the new arrangement will allow dependents under 18 to go to the United Kingdom with their BNO-registered parents.

Even if applicants do not hold a valid BNO passport, they can enter the United Kingdom with SAR passports.

The Home Office might consider using discretion to grant the visa to those who were born after 1997 and over 18 yet are still dependants of BNO status holder parents. However, such discretion would only be offered when the application is submitted as a family unit.

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com