China has said that the UK does not have the right of Hong Kong residents to abstain from stringent new national security laws, and has pledged to take "positive steps" to prevent such action.
Following comments from the Chinese embassy in Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson pledged to grant the British National (Overseas) Status (BNO) to about 3 million residents of the former British colony, the right to dispose of them in the UK.
Britain's Secretary of State Dominic Rabb has admitted that Britain could be "forced" to do less if it tried to stop Hong Kong from entering Britain.
Chinese ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming said on Thursday that the deal was a breach of the agreements between the two countries, and called criticism of Britain's national security law "irresponsible and unfair."
It is clear that all Chinese nationals living in Hong Kong are Chinese citizens, whether they have British Dependent Territories Citizen Passports or British National (Overseas) passports.
"If the British side unilaterally changes its approach, it will melt its position and at the same time pledge legal law."
In a statement posted on the Embassy website on Thursday, he said: "We vehemently oppose it and reserve the right to act accordingly." "Britain does not have the sovereignty, jurisdiction or 'oversight' of Hong Kong".
About 400 people have been arrested in Hong Kong as thousands of people protested against the law, which came into effect late Tuesday on a translucent legislative process that took less than six weeks. Critics say the law gives the authorities the ability to eliminate conflicts and bring new levels of Chinese control over the semi-autonomous region.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday said his country was working on a plan to provide Hong Kong residents a safe haven after China's "very concerning" decision. Morrison said Australia was "willing and able to provide assistance", but his cabinet has not yet finalized the details, including whether or not a permanent settlement path should be included in the plan.
The Arab on Wednesday acknowledged that Britain could do little to "force" Britain to try to stop a government visa pledge.
Regarding ETV's Peston program, he said: "If they follow something like this, there is very little we can do to force them."
Rob continued: “There is an issue of freedom and human rights in Hong Kong, and there is an issue around China, which expresses its view on international responsibility in the United Kingdom in 1984.
“I don't want to be naive about this: I think we should be realistic. There are other ways that can be implemented or you can celebrate some of the disclaimers.
"But in the end we have to be honest. China can't force the BNO to come to Britain."
Johnson noted that those who hold British nationals (foreign) passports, as well as those who are eligible for passports, will have to change immigration rules to live in the UK and eventually apply for citizenship.
The UK government believes that the new security law passed by Beijing will overturn the Sino-British joint statement, which was intended to ease the transition in 1997 when the region was reassigned to China.
As of February, the government estimated that there were about 350,000 BNO passport holders and about 2.9 million BNOs living in Hong Kong.
Asked how many of the expected emigrants from the Hong Kong government would come to the UK, Rob said: "It is difficult to give a definitive indication, but I think it is reasonable to assume that a new position has been provided to us. I take it to the House of Commons today."
He said he was discussing a life-saving campaign with other countries in the region. He said: "We expect the majority in Hong Kong to decline, while others will move to other countries in the region."
Downing Street said those with BNO status will not be eligible to travel to the UK and meet the salary cap before the plan details are finalized in the "coming weeks".
Security law in Hong Kong criminalizes a variety of heritage, vandalism, terrorism and acts that are perceived to be colluding with foreign powers. Hong Kong police made the first arrest on Wednesday under the new law, including a 15-year-old girl who was aving the Hong Kong independence flag.
Liu was called to the Foreign Office on Wednesday, where Permanent Secretary Sir Simon MacDonald said Hong Kong's imposition of the new law violated the Sino-British joint statement.
After his visit, Liu tweeted: "After the turmoil at the end of last year, the National Security Law Order will bring stability to Hong Kong and re-track its economy."
China sees its actions as one of the last stages of decolonization, but a preliminary test of its desire to protect the country's independence comes in the autumn elections for the legislature.
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