The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government said on Thursday that it deplores and opposes the announcement by the British government on providing a pathway for Chinese nationals in Hong Kong who are holders of the British National Overseas (BNO) passport or eligible for it to reside and obtain citizenship in Britain.

Given the history, it is hypocritical for Britain to deliberately violate its pledge made in the British memorandum associated with the Sino-British Joint Declaration despite the firm opposition of China and its repeated representations, and insist on using the BNO passport or status, which some people in Hong Kong still hold, for political maneuvering on the pretext of changing the policy to provide a route for relevant persons to reside and obtain citizenship in Britain, said a spokesman of the HKSAR government.

Since the establishment of the HKSAR, the Chinese central government has been upholding and implementing the principle of "One Country, Two Systems." The HKSAR enjoys a high degree of autonomy in accordance with the HKSAR Basic Law and has maintained prosperity and stability, the spokesman noted.

The high-profile measures taken by the British government on the pretext of the new national security law for the HKSAR are purely made out of political maneuvering, he said, adding that they not only seriously violate Britain's own pledge, but also seriously interfere in the affairs of the HKSAR.

On Thursday, Chinese Foreign Ministry said that China will consider not recognizing BNO passports as valid travel documents, in response to the new British policy allowing Hong Kong residents to claim British citizenship. 

Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said the UK's new policy is a violation of international law and interferes with China's internal affairs. 

The HKSAR government is in support of this and will follow up accordingly, the spokesman said.

The British government has made it an issue again on the BNO passport after its unilateral announcement to suspend its agreement with Hong Kong for the surrender of fugitive offenders. The HKSAR government deplores and opposes such moves by Britain and urges the British government to stop interfering in the affairs of the HKSAR and return to normal tracks, the spokesman said.

The UK government on Wednesday issued its Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Visa Policy Statement, announcing that it will change the arrangements and extend residence rights for BNO passport holders. The relevant measures will come into force in January 2021.  

Read more: What is the BNO passport?

"This seriously goes against its own promises, interfered in China's internal affairs, and violated international law and the basic norms governing international relations," a spokesperson from the Chinese embassy in the UK said in a statement reacting to the British move. "The Chinese side expresses its grave concern and strong opposition and will certainly take effective countermeasures." 

In an MOU exchanged between China and the UK, the UK has explicitly pledged that BNO passport holders who are Chinese citizens residing in Hong Kong shall not have the right of abode in the UK, said the statement. 

The UK has now, in total disregard of the strong opposition and repeated representations of the Chinese side, offered a route for BNO passport holders to the right of abode and application for citizenship in the UK, it pointed out. 

Hong Kong has been a special administrative region of China since China resumed the exercise of sovereignty, the statement continued, and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs and brook no external interference in any form. 

"The Chinese Government remains unwavering in its resolve to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, to implement 'One Country, Two Systems' fully and faithfully, to enforce the National Security Law for Hong Kong SAR, and to oppose any external interference in Hong Kong affairs," it said.

"The Chinese side urges the UK side to recognize the fact that Hong Kong is part of China, have a right and objective understanding on the National Security Law for Hong Kong SAR, immediately correct its mistakes and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs, which are China's internal affairs, in any form. Such interference will be self-defeating."  

(With input from Xinhua)

(Cover: The British National Overseas (BNO) passport. /AP)