Hong Kong law ‘clear and serious breach’ of agreement – Johnson

Wed, Jul 1, 2020
By publisher
2 MIN READ

Foreign

BRITAIN Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, on Wednesday, said China’s imposition of a new security law on Hong Kong was a “clear and serious breach” of its agreement with Britain.

Johnson confirmed that Britain will proceed with a plan to expand residency rights for Hong Kong British passport holders in spite of objections from Beijing.

“We stand for rules and obligations and we think that is the soundest basis for our international relations.

“As well as the enactment and imposition of the national security law constitute a clear and serious breach of the Sino-British joint declaration.

“We made clear that if China continued down this path we would introduce a new route for those in Hong Kong with British national overseas status to enter the UK.

“`We will also grant them limited leave to remain with the ability to live and work in the UK and thereafter to apply for citizenship, and that is precisely what we will do now,” Johnson said.

Britain handed control of Hong Kong to China in 1997 after more than 150 years of colonial rule.

Beijing agreed to uphold basic freedoms in the territory under a 1984 Sino-British declaration.
According to British media, up to three million people in Hong Kong could be eligible for a British National Overseas passport. (dpa/NAN)

– Jul. 1, 2020 @ 13:39 GMT |

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