300,000 Hong Kong nationals have British National (Overseas) passports and 2.9m are eligible for them, out of a total population of 7.5m. Given anyone born after 1997, when Hong Kong was handed back to China, is not eligible for one, many of the 2.9m with BN(O) passports would not accept the British government's offer of extended visas because they have children or grandchildren who are not eligible. Also, those in most need (activists) would fall into this category, hence the actual number who would be willing and able to come to the UK would probably be very small.
I can't help feeling that the situation in Hong Kong will be used as leverage with western governments over the Huawei 5G debacle and that the Chinese government will offer to water down the new sedition law in return for western governments not banning Huawei's 5G technology.
The Chinese government, not being hostage to elections, can and does plan much further ahead than democratic governments, which gives China a huge advantage in negotiations.
Talking of not fearing elections, now that Putin has effectively ensured he can remain in position for life, Russia has become a very dangerous country, as it has now a de facto one party state for a very long time. The difference between China and Russia is that the person at the top of Chinese politics changes every 10 years and has to contend with various internal factions, whereas the person at the top of Russian politics doesn't. Putin is a dictator masquerading under a pretence of democratic legitimacy.
1 comment:
I hope you're right about the number of HK'ers wanting or able to come here.
The argument against Huawei 5G is valid. Too many of our allies are against it for us to continue.
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