Beijing is pressuring Hong Kong’s elite to give up their Western passports in order to be elected to the Chinese parliament as it seeks to eradicate foreign influence and strengthen its control over the territory.
Officials told politicians and bigwigs who wanted to be represented Hong Kong China’s top decision-making body is seeking to give up passports or travel documents from countries including the UK, according to one new delegate, a former delegate and another briefed on the selection process.
Member of the National People’s Congress of China. held the annual general meeting over the weekend, is elected every five years. In December, Beijing elected 36 delegates from Hong Kong. It is the first time China has elected delegates from Hong Kong since the 2019 pro-democracy protests, which accused it of “foreign forces.”
Hong Kong citizens hold Chinese passports, but many former British colonial residents are eligible for British national (overseas) travel documents. this is the road to citizenshipA good number also hold Canadian, Australian or US passports.
At least one NPC representative seeking a second term was denied a seat because he held a BNO, officials said. Beijing had previously said BNO holders were eligible for NPCs, but “the message was either you give it up or you don’t run,” said another former NPC representative.
The Hong Kong Liaison Office, which represents the city of Beijing, did not respond to a request for comment.
Beijing is under pressure to give up foreign passports “Patriots Who Rule Hong Kong” PolicyThis is an intensive scrutiny program for the city’s leadership roles as China seeks to sideline local politicians with strong ties to the West from positions of power. It also applies to the election of the Legislative Council, the de facto parliament of The Legislative Council is now made up entirely of pro-Beijing lawmakers.
Ann NPCs “Beijing’s concerns are understandable because the delegates were running for one of the most important institutions in the country,” Beijing’s chosen Hong Kong representative told the Financial Times.
Lau Xiucai, Beijing adviser and vice president of the Hong Kong-Macao Research China Association, said holding foreign passports and travel documents could be a security risk.
“China faces increasing national security threats from the United States and the West,” Lau said. “And when Britain was offering BN(O) as a route to residency and citizenship…that raises questions of loyalty.”
While some countries impose citizenship requirements on their elected officials, the situation presents a test for Hong Kong’s globe-trotting elite, many of whom want to maintain their dual citizenship.
More than 160,000 Hong Kongers have applied for British citizenship after the 2019 protests, and at least 105,200 have already arrived in the UK.
scheme pissed off beijing, former Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said, “All Chinese compatriots in Hong Kong are Chinese citizens.” China also said it would not recognize British passports provided to former Hong Kong residents.
CY Leung, a senior Chinese official and former Hong Kong leader, told the FT last week that all Hong Kong politicians, including representatives of political groups in Beijing and members of the pro-government legislature, “have given up their foreign passports. death, [and] He cited the risk of sanctions as a reason.
“The long arm of America [prosecutors target those who held on to their passports] As a US citizen. . . Are they acting against the interests and ideology of the United States?”
At a national security education event last month, Leung said those who refuse to surrender the documents are “making ridiculous excuses.”
