China stated that Great Britain does not have the right to grant residence permits to Hong Kong refugees fleeing the new tough national security law, and promised to take “appropriate measures” to stop such a move.
Comments from the Chinese embassy in the UK came after Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to grant almost 3 million residents of the former British colony with British National (Overseas) Status (BNO) the right to settle in the United Kingdom.
British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab admitted that Britain can do little to “force” China if it tries to stop Hong Kongs from coming to the UK.
On Thursday, Chinese Ambassador to Britain Liu Xiaoming said that this would be a violation of the agreements between the two countries, and called the criticism of the UK regarding national security legislation “irresponsible and unreasonable.”