A Chinese national flag flutters outside the office for safeguarding national security in the HKSAR.  (PHOTO / AFP)

HONG KONG - A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the UK said that China strongly opposed the latest visa policy announced by the UK government for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) passport holders and vowed to 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

 Spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in the UK

The embassy was responding to the UK’s announcement on Wednesday to change the arrangements and extend residence rights for BNO passport holders.

In a statement, the spokesperson said the UK move has violated international law and the basic norms governing international relations.

“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. 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. This seriously goes against its own promises, interfered in China's internal affairs, and violated international law and the basic norms governing international relations,” the spokesperson said.

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The spokesperson said that Hong Kong has been a special administrative region of China since China resumed the exercise of sovereignty. 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 the Hong Kong SAR, and to oppose any external interference in Hong Kong affairs,” the spokesperson said. 

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The Chinese side urged 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 the 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,” the spokesperson said.