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Hong Kongers Eye British Citizenship But Fear Retaliation From China

Protesters Battle Goes Global

In a compromise with Britain, those formerly designated as British Dependent Territories Citizens were allowed to continue carrying British national overseas passports, though until now, that did not come with an automatic right of residency. After the law was announced, some people in Hong Kong rushed to renew their British passports, while others expressed skepticism that Britain would move forward and grant citizenship. “The last thing London wants is to have three million British overseas passport holders coming to the U.K.,” Mr. Tsang added. The policy was to guarantee Hong Kong greater freedoms than those on the mainland until 2047, such as the freedom of speech and people’s right to protest. Hong Kong is ruled under the ‘one country, two system’ policy and has different legal and governing systems to mainland China. Hong Kong’s government yesterday formally withdrew an unpopular extradition bill that sparked unruly protests, which morphed into a broader campaign for democratic change in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.

From July 1, 1997, Hong Kong people were able to keep using British Dependent Territories Citizens or BNO passports as travel documents, but they would not be entitled to British consular protection in Hong Kong and mainland China. Hong Kong residents will now be required to declare if they hold British citizenship under the BNO passport scheme, according to Asia Times. China is expected to step up retaliation in March against the UK’s scheme to offer citizenship to millions of Hong Kong people through British National passport, reported Asia Times. Chinese responses are likely to be limited to notes of repudiation, however, the precedent of encouraging mass emigration cannot be ignored. If this dangerous strategy becomes a common practice on the international arena, we will have a chaotic scenario, with countries considering all citizens of their geopolitical rivals as refugees. It is necessary for the United Nations to act with promptness, condemning governments that consider mere migrants or common criminals to be refugees only for geopolitical interests, as this can bring enormous global legal insecurity.

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The economy has grown rapidly; the real growth of the median household income from 1986 to 1996 was 51 percent. Holidays related to Britain and local events have been replaced with Chinese holidays such as 1 July, celebrating the restoration of Hong Kong to Chinese rule in 1997, and 1 October, commemorating the founding of the PRC in 1949. A newly created “Buddha’s Birthday” in May has replaced Queen’s Birthday in June.

The national security law is aimed at punishing acts of secession, subversion of state power, terrorism and “collusion” with foreign and external forces. Separately, Hong Kong lawmakers passed legislation on June 4 that would punish anyone who shows disrespect for China’s national anthem – something that is already a crime in the mainland. Britain is not alone in criticising China’s new national security law, which came into force just ahead of the law firm istanbul July 1 anniversary of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule, a symbolic occasion usually marked by mass protests against Beijing. Instead, Mainland China and its residents are Chinese citizens with a “right of domicile” in Hong Kong. The European Union has reiterated its “grave concerns” about Beijing’s national security law for Hong Kong, saying it is “essential that the existing rights and freedoms of Hong Kong residents are fully protected.”

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Refugees can apply for indefinite leave to remain in the UK five years after getting refugee status, and then apply for citizenship one year after getting ILR. You can apply for UK citizenship by naturalization after five years of residence in the UK, as long as this includes at least 12 months of either indefinite leave or EU settled status. This can be sooner under certain circumstances, such turkish citizenship by investment as if you are married to a British citizen. Those born before this date only have to pay the £80 citizenship ceremony fee. The biggest change is that following Brexit, children of EU/EEA citizens born from 1 July 2021 only get British citizenship if at least one parent has EU settled status. You can find more detailed information about who qualifies for British citizenship by birth here.

U.S. policy toward Hong Kong is stated in the U.S.-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992, the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act of 2019, and the Hong Kong Autonomy Act of 2020. It is grounded in the determination to promote Hong Kong’s prosperity, autonomy, and way of life. The United States maintains substantial economic and political interests in Hong Kong and serves a large community of U.S. citizens and visitors in Hong Kong. The U.S. continues to advocate for protection of fundamental freedoms and human rights in Hong Kong, following the imposition of the national security law.

Who Can Apply Online For A Par For Hong Kong?

If you send the wrong fee your application will not be processed and you’ll have to apply again. For example, you might be a Chinese national if you’re ethnically Chinese (even if you became a British national through a connection with Hong Kong – for example because you, your parents or your grandparents were born, registered or naturalised there). In some cases, mainland China will assume legal jurisdiction and suspects could be sent there for trial. Britain handed over Hong Kong, its former colony, to Chinese rule on July 1, 1997 under a “One Country, Two Systems” framework that was supposed to guarantee the city a high degree of autonomy and Western-style civil liberties not seen on mainland China.

“It violates Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and is in direct conflict with Hong Kong basic law. They were met with a heavy security presence and at least 300 people were arrested. He said it was therefore “a clear and serious violation” of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, which laid the groundwork for the city’s handover from British to China in 1997 and stated that Hong Kong’s existing system of government would remain in place for 50 years. Thatcher and the Home Office were determined not to open the floodgates to Hong Kong Chinese, who they deemed to have no close connection with Britain.

Travellers get vaccinated either because it is required to enter a country or because it is recommended for their protection. Consult a health care professional or visit a travel health clinic preferably six weeks before you travel. If entering and leaving Hong Kong via mainland China, make sure you have a visa for re-entry into China. Before you travel, check with your transportation company about passport requirements. Its rules on passport validity may be more stringent than the country’s entry rules. Entry requirements vary depending on the type of passport you use for travel.

To apply for a PAR for Hong Kong, the applicant must have an Indian passport valid for at least six months. After completing and submitting the PAR application for Hong Kong, the applicant will be notified of the approval of the Pre Arrival Registration via email. It is necessary to print at least one copy of the approved Notification Slip for Pre Arrival Registration for Indian citizens on a full sheet of A4 white paper, to present upon arrival in Hong Kong alongside the associated passport. Yes, all Indian citizens need to obtain a PAR to enter Hong Kong, regardless of age. Minors have to apply for a PAR whether they hold their own passport or are included on the parent’s passport.

Post 1997 till around 2013 HK had freely contested municipal elections, which is a big deal in a city state. They had an independent judiciary, following British model of case law and statute. Rule of law not rule by law, and certainly no abductions in the middle of the night.

AirDrop was used to broadcast anti-extradition bill information to the public and mainland tourists. A protest anthem, “Glory to Hong Kong”, was composed, its lyrics crowdsourced on the LIHKG online forum, and sung in flash protests in shopping centres. The Lady Liberty Hong Kong statue was also crowdfunded by citizens to commemorate the protests.

The PAR visa travel authorization is valid for 6 months from the date of approval. It is possible to stay in Hong Kong beyond the expiry date of the PAR as long as the holder enters Hong Kong before the last day of validity and only stays up to 14 days. Select your country of passport to see if you are eligible to apply online.

The Presiding Magistrate said the convict disregarded the importance of public safety, which will become a source for the uncontrollable spread of COVID-19. This is especially true of the convict as he operated a premise designed for large group gatherings that could easily become a site for cross-infection. 599G was enacted to prohibit all forms of gathering for more than four people in public areas. Restaurants and caterers were told to halve their original seating, conduct body temperature checks on patrons, and ensure a span of at least 1.5 m between tables. 599G Regulation would entail the issuance of a $2,000 fixed penalty notice, payment upon which the liability would be discharged, and exempt one from further judicial proceedings.

If you are a Chinese citizen as outlined above and hold a foreign passport, you can declare a change of nationality to the HKSAR Immigration Department by submitting valid documentation. Upon approval, you will no longer be regarded as a Chinese citizen and will be able to enjoy consular protection from the country of your declared nationality. According to the Nationality Law of PRC, a Chinese national who settled outside China and acquired foreign citizenship is no longer recognized to be a Chinese nationals, so that his/her children cannot obtain Chinese nationality on their birth. Essentially, ex-Chinese nationals and the children of an ex-Chinese nationals are not entitled to Chinese nationality. In legal system of Hong Kong, the terms “nationality” and “citizenship” have almost the same meaning for immigration as well as other legal purposes. Meanwhile, the People’s Republic of China uses the term “Chinese national”, whereas the Hong Kong’s immigration law uses the term “Chinese citizen” to describe the same group of person – the person who has Chinese nationality is Chinese national .

Secretary Blinken, in consultation with the Department of Homeland Security, has temporarily expanded the ability of consular officers to waive the in-person interview requirement for individuals applying for a nonimmigrant visa in the same classification. Previously, only those applicants whose nonimmigrant visa expired within 24 months were eligible for an interview waiver. The Secretary has temporarily extended the expiration period to 48 months. This change will allow consular officers to continue processing certain nonimmigrant visa applications while limiting the number of applicants who must appear at a consular section, thereby reducing the risk of COVID-19 transmission to other applicants and consular staff.

I find that out here in foreign countries, Chinese people make a really big deal out of which province they’re from. Particularly if it’s one in which the language has not historically been Mandarin . Or at least a vaguely recognizable dialect of Mandarin such as Sichuan hua. Those eligible can access the British job market at any skill level and without a salary threshold, but won’t have access to public funds.

Hong Kong also has its own legal and judicial systems , district organizations , and public servants, broadly based on the British common law model. However, for land tenure and family matters, Hong Kong reverts to the Chinese customary law model. Most people know Hong Kong as an international financial hub, business center, shopping paradise, and tourist destination. However, the region’s identity crisis and resistance to Beijing’s interference are at the heart of the civil unrest in the former British colony.

After the passing of the law on 30 June 2020, the UK confirmed these Hong Kong residents are able to come to the United Kingdom with a five-year limited leave to remain. Following those five years they will be able to apply for indefinite leave to remain in the United Kingdom and, after a further 12 months with settled status, they will be able to apply for British citizenship. This was a six times increase from four years earlier with levels of depression and PTSD comparable to a war zone. A survey, on social media, of more than 1,000 people by the Chinese University of Hong Kong found that 38 per cent were troubled by depression-related problems. Symptoms of PTSD were found not only to afflict protesters, but also those watching events unfold on the news, living in affected areas, or working in jobs that are related to the movement .

Andrew Wan, a pro-democracy lawmaker, is arrested by riot police during a protest in Hong Kong on July 1, 2020. Please keep me updated and send me information and news about Henley & Partners and its group companies, event invitations, press references, and publications via e-mail or mail. The Investment as Entrepreneurs category sets out the entry requirement for persons who wish to enter or stay in the HKSAR as entrepreneurs under the GEP, in other words, to establish or join a business in the HKSAR.

So far, the Chinese central government has given its support to her and the Hong Kong police, calling the demonstrators ‘rioters’ and condemning the violence. Johnny Patterson, Director of UK-based human rights organisation Hong Kong Watch, said the situation in the Asian financial hub ‘is on a knife-edge’. Hundreds of Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters formed a human chain at the British Consulate in the city overnight to rally support for their cause from the city’s former colonial ruler.

• Like most of the 50,000 people who left Hong Kong last year for a new life in a new land, 39-year-old Kwok says he had no choice but to make the sacrifices necessary to keep his family safe.
• “It violates Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and is in direct conflict with Hong Kong basic law.
• Pro-democracy protesters brace themselves as riot police try to clear a demonstration in 2014.
• In 1953, the government began to build public housing, in part because of the realization that the refugees would not go back to the mainland and to allow developers to build on squatter-occupied land.
• Before the victory of the Chinese Communists in 1949, Hong Kong had no border with China; it was a British-administered city with a constant flow of people in and out.
• He was unwilling to be identified by his full name because he feared a social media “dog pile”.