A British Overseas Passport (BNO) and a Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport of the People’s Republic of China are photographed in Hong Kong on Friday, January 29, 2021.
Photo:
Kin Cheung / Associated press
To its eternal credit, the British government is living up to its promise to its former colonial subjects by providing a path to citizenship for Hong Kong people holding British (overseas) national passports and their family members. The need for such a safe haven became clearer on Friday as China hit back by announcing that China will no longer recognize BN (O) passports as a valid form of identification or travel document.
For now, Hong Kong people who wish to leave can still use their Hong Kong passports, unless there is an arrest warrant against their arrest or bail restrictions. But Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian warned that China “reserves the right to take further action.”
Hong Kong people fear Beijing will soon impose restrictions on the movement of money or assets. At the request of the police, HSBC frozen the bank accounts of pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui, who escaped abroad in December. Pro-Beijing lawmaker Regina Ip recently suggested that China should consider using “its nationality law to ban dual nationality” so that fleeing Hong Kong people may never be able to return. China could also restrict the freedom of movement of Hong Kong refugees by pressuring other countries to refuse to recognize BN (O) passports.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere in Hong Kong is getting more and more stuffy by the day. Earlier this month, Hong Kong police arrested more than 50 former lawmakers and dissidents. District councilors and pro-democracy lawyers are likely the next targets. Pro-Beijing lawmakers have also called on schools to install surveillance cameras in classrooms to ensure teachers don’t make “subversive remarks” during class.
The message is clear: Hong Kong can become a place where you cannot escape. It is therefore a shame that last month Senator Ted Cruz blocked legislation that would have made it easier for Hong Kong people to obtain refugee or temporary protection status in the United States. The Biden administration has a chance to do better for the cause of freedom by following the Great Example.
Main Street: When a billionaire becomes a dissident, the takeover of Hong Kong is total. Image: Apple Daily
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Published in the print edition of January 30, 2021.
