Britain on Sunday
opened a new visa scheme for Hong Kongers that would allow them to live and
work in the United Kingdom, AFP reported. 

The scheme which went
live on Sunday allowed anyone with a British National (Overseas) passport and
their dependents to apply online for a visa. After five years on stay, they can apply
for citizenship. Britain predicts up to 154,000 Hong Kongers could arrive in the country over
the next year and as many as 322,000 over five years. This would bring an
estimated “net benefit” of up to £2.9 billion ($4 billion).

This scheme comes as Britain
opens its doors to those wanting to escape China’s crackdown on dissent. Last
year, China had imposed a sweeping national security law on the city to snuff
out huge democracy protests.

“We have honoured
our profound ties of history and friendship with the people of Hong Kong, and
we have stood up for freedom and autonomy,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson
said of the scheme.

On the other hand, China
has reacted with fury to the scheme, announcing that it would no longer
recognise BN(O) passports as a legitimate travel or ID document. China’s
state-run Xinhua news agency also accused Britain of having a “colonial
mentality”.

Meanwhile, under the
visa scheme, those hoping to move must show that they have enough funds to
sustain both themselves and their dependents for at least six months.