Britain Treating HK People Like Refugees: Regina Ip

New People's Party lawmaker Regina Ip on Monday said the UK is basically treating Hong Kong people who plan to move there under the British National (Overseas) visa scheme as refugees.

Applications for the visa programme opened on Sunday, allowing Hongkongers with BN(O) status to live and work in Britain for five years, and eventually apply for citizenship.

London introduced the scheme following the imposition of the national security law last year.

Seven thousand had already moved to the UK since July under a temporary arrangement to admit Hong Kong people before the visa scheme kicked in.

Ip, an executive councillor, told an RTHK programme that she believes these 7,000 people were either unhappy with the national security law or had taken part in the SAR's social unrest and were afraid of being arrested.

She said unlike a doctor who emigrates to the UK through the normal immigration route, "these people have no skills and qualifications".

"You can go by just paying for the visa and national health services fees and answer 100 questions. They are more or less treating you as refugees," she said.

The former security minister admitted that a move by the central and SAR governments to stop recognising BN(O) passports will have little impact on Hong Kong people. However, she said more options are available as counter measures to Britain's visa scheme.

For example, she said, Beijing could strip those who settle in the UK of their status as Hong Kong permanent residents.

Meanwhile, former Democratic Party lawmaker Emily Lau, who chairs the party's international affairs committee, called on the authorities to "calm down" and respect people's choices, saying it's "none of their business" if people want to leave Hong Kong.

"If Hong Kong people feel safe, peaceful and free, do you believe they will, out of no reason, sell their properties and everything and move overseas?" she asked, adding that Hong Kong people are not stupid.

Lau also said it would be illogical for Beijing to only target people with BN(O) status, but allow others to keep their overseas citizenship.