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China threatens retaliation for offering aid to the people of Hong Kong

“If the British side unilaterally changes the current rules, it would be a violation of its own positions and international law,” the Chinese embassy in London said in a statement on Thursday.

“All Hong Kong compatriots, including holders of a British passport overseas, are Chinese citizens,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Liani.

There are now around 350,000 British Overseas Passport (BNO) holders in Hong Kong who do not need a visa to visit the United Kingdom and can stay there for up to half a year. Another 2.6 million people are eligible for this document.

London announced on Wednesday that it would allow Chinese residents to stay in Britain for up to five years and apply for citizenship after another year.

Australia also offers help

Special conditions in the form of visas for Hong Kong residents who will be at risk due to new legislation are also being considered by the Australian government. The cabinet will “very actively” consider ways to protect the people of Hong Kong, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said today.

Hong Kong returned from British rule under China’s administration on July 1, 1997. In a handover agreement, Beijing undertook that certain freedoms and autonomies that would be unthinkable in the rest of China would apply in Hong Kong until 2047.

However, according to critics from the international community, autonomy was grossly violated by the security law, which came into force on Tuesday. The legislation defines four crimes for which it will be applied, namely separatist, subversive and terrorist activities and cooperation with foreign forces in order to endanger national security.

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