HONG KONG - The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)’s government said it will no longer recognize the British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport as a valid travel document or proof of identity with effect from Jan 31.

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The announcement came after the British government said that it will begin accepting citizenship applications for BNO-eligible Hong Kong residents starting from Sunday.

In a statement issued on Friday, a spokesperson for the HKSAR government said that the Chinese and British governments reached a consensus long ago on how to deal with the issue of Hong Kong residents holding BNO passports and exchanged memoranda on the understanding in 1984.

The current move of the British side has substantively changed the nature of BNO passport, and is a fundamental violation of its pledge in its memorandum.

Spokesperson, HKSAR govt

In its memorandum, the UK clearly pledged not to confer the right of abode in the UK on holders of the BNO passport who are Chinese nationals in Hong Kong. The current move of the British side has substantively changed the nature of BNO passport, and is a fundamental violation of its pledge in its memorandum.

"This move of the British government clearly uses the BNO passport or status which some people in Hong Kong still hold for political maneuver on the pretext of providing a new route for relevant persons to reside and obtain citizenship in the UK," the spokesperson said.

"Apart from serving its political agenda, the move of the British side will also bring huge economic interests to the country. While the UK may be in dire need of talents and capital, it should not have made use of the BNO passport as a 'political cover-up'," the spokesperson said.

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"As the UK breaches its commitment in the first place, it is legitimate for our country to take countermeasures in response," the spokesperson said.

Earlier on Friday, a spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that China strongly opposed UK's latest move, which has seriously infringed on China's sovereignty and blatantly interfered in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs. 

The spokesperson announced that with effect from Jan 31, China will no longer recognize the so-called BNO passport as a valid travel document and proof of identity and reserve the right to take further actions.

The HKSAR government spokesperson said it will fully follow up on the necessary measures for implementing the relevant policy.