Britain Promises To Help HK Over Security Law

Britain will not look away from its responsibilities to Hong Kong, Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said on Sunday, repeating London's offer of extended visa rights in response to China's push to impose a new law in the former British colony.

"If China follows through with this national security legislation... we will give those people who hold BNO passports (British National Overseas’ passports) the right to come to the UK," Raab told the BBC, adding that only "a fraction of them would actually come".

"We are not going to turn a blind eye, we are not going to look away from our responsibilities to the people of Hong Kong."

Britain and the United States are among the countries that have spoken out against the proposed national security law. They say it would undermine the rights of Hong Kong people.

Beijing insists the law is needed to protect national security and crack down on pro-independence forces in Hong Kong. (Reuters)