China could strip Hong Kong citizens of right to vote

China could strip Hong Kongers of their right to vote if they opt to hold British-issued travel documents allowing them to resettle in the UK, experts said last night.

The warning came after Beijing announced yon Friday that it would "no longer recognise" the British National (Overseas) passport for Hong Kongers, through which a visa scheme opens on Sunday allowing them to move to Britain.

The scheme - announced by Boris Johnson last year in the wake of Beijing's human rights clampdown in Hong Kong - is expected to be used by more than 300,000 people in the coming five years.

Beijing’s foreign ministry declared that as of Sunday, it would no longer recognise the "so-called BN(O) passport as a travel document and ID document, and reserves the right to take further actions."

The declaration thus far appears to be largely symbolic, because Hong Kongers also have their own Hong Kong passport and ID cards, which Beijing still recognises.

However, one BN(O)-eligible Hong Kong resident, who asked not to be named for fear of repercussions, told The Telegraph: "It’s only a travel document but now the non-recognition of BN(O) reflects a greater picture: China is an autocratic country.

“I may consider leaving Hong Kong as I’m worried that the socio-political and economic environment in Hong Kong will only get worse.”

Experts believe the "further actions" threatened by Beijing could include sanctions on any Hong Kong citizen who already holds a BN(O) passport or exercises their option to apply for one.

That could make Hong Kongers think twice about taking up Mr Johnson's offer, which is intended as an escape route for those uncomfortable with Beijing's draconian new security laws.

"Beijing may have further retaliations in mind, such as forcing people who hold a BNO passport to choose between either keeping that, or losing the right to vote and other citizenship rights in Hong Kong, such as holding office," said Professor Steve Tsang, director of the China Institute at London's SOAS University. "It would mean Hong Kongers would have to officially renounce their right to a BNO passport, or their political rights will be affected."

Democratic rights in Hong Kong have already been significantly curtailed in the last year, with local election candidates disqualified under the draconian new national security law and opposition activists arrested and jailed.

Around 2.9 million of Hong Kong's 7.5 million population are eligible for BNO passports, the criteria being that they were born in the territory before control was transferred from Britain to China in 1997.

Applications for BN(O) passports have skyrocketed more than 300 percent since the national security law was imposed last July, with 733,000 registered holders as of mid-January.

Technically, Beijing has no way of knowing who already holds or has applied for BNOs, as the records are held in confidentiality by the British embassy in Hong Kong.

However, because of the eligibility requirement to be born before 1997, Beijing knows that anyone aged roughly 24 or over has the entitlement. It could, if it chose, ask such people if they possessed a BN(0) whenever they signed official declarations, for example when filling in government paperwork or applying for government jobs. If they were found to have lied, they could be liable to prosecution.

Charles Parton, a China expert with the Royal United Services Institute thinktank, added that it was possible that Beijing could acquire databases of BN(O) passport holders illegally.

"People may say that the records are safe, but nobody should assume that China can't hack into official databases," he said.

Under the new British scheme, those with a BN(O) passport and their dependents will be able to both live and work in the UK. After five years they can then apply for citizenship.

In providing an exit route to those unhappy with Beijing's rule, the scheme could potentially drain Hong Kong of much of the business talent that has made it an economic powerhouse. China calculates that it now has enough well-educated businesspeople of its own to fill any void - who will also be more compliant with the Communist Party system.

Mr Tsang said there might be a limit, however, on how drastic any sanctions against BN(O) passport holders might be. "They might be happy for the dissidents to go, but no government that wants stability will want to lose half Hong Kong's population in a very short time," he said.

Under the new rules imposed by Beijing, BN(O) passports can no longer be used for immigration clearance in Hong Kong, or as any proof of identity. International airlines will also be expected to require Hong Kong residents to regard only Hong Kong passports or ID cards as valid travel documents

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: “We are disappointed but not surprised by the Chinese decision not to recognise British National (Overseas) passports.

“Despite China’s announcement, BN(O)s and their families will be able to use documentation other than BN(O) passports to take up this visa. People with BN(O) status now have a choice to come and live, work and study in the UK."