英國政府宣布自1月31日起，調整後的英國國民海外護照（BNO）及簽證政策正式生效。北京外交部發言人趙立堅主持例行記者會，趙立堅宣布，自1月31日起，中方不再承認所謂的BNO護照作為旅行證件和身份證明，並保留採取進一步措施的權利。
趙立堅表示，英方罔顧香港已經回歸中國24年的事實，不顧中方嚴正立場，公然違背承諾，執意炮製出台所謂量身定制的具有英國國民海外BNO身份的香港居民，赴英居留和入籍政策，並一再擴大適用範圍。
英方試圖把大批港人變成二等英國公民，已經徹底改變了原來中英諒解的BNO性質。英國現在所謂的BNO已經不再是原來的BNO，此舉嚴重侵犯中國主權，粗暴干涉香港事務和中國內政，嚴重違反國際法和國際關係基本準則。中方對此強烈憤慨，堅決反對。
英國政府今日公布，1月31日起可申請英國國民（海外）護照（BNO）簽證移民英國，約540萬名香港居民合資格，預計首年有至少12.3萬人申請。
申請分兩階段進行，申請人可於1月31日下午5時起，於網上申請新簽證，並預約前往位於北角的簽證申請中心提供指紋及照片以辦理手續；2月23日起，申請人可透過手機應用程式，掃描其生物特徵護照以辦理手續，毋須親臨簽證申請中心。
Beijing has declared it will stop recognising British National (Overseas) passports as travel and identification documents from Sunday and warned of further actions in retaliation against Britain’s offer of a pathway to citizenship to 5.4 million eligible Hongkongers.
The announcement was made by Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian at a daily press briefing.
The move came hours after British authorities announced details of the application process for the new BN(O) visas. Applications will open on Sunday 5pm.
“Britain has ignored the fact that Hong Kong has already been returned to China for 24 years,” Zhao said. He accused London of ignoring Beijing’s “stern stance” against the new BN(O) policy, adding it would turn Hongkongers into “second-class citizens”.
Zhao said the BN(O) scheme was no longer one that had been agreed upon by both sides. “[The new visa] is a serious violation of China’s sovereignty and a violent intervention of Hong Kong’s affairs and China’s internal affairs. It is a serious violation of the international laws and the basic principles of international relations,” he said.
資料來源：星島日報，South China Morning Post
