Australia to offer residence option to 10,000 Hong Kongers

Published July 13, 2020
HONG KONG: People wearing face masks vote in a primary election aimed at selecting candidates for the September elections in Hong Kong.—Reuters
HONG KONG: People wearing face masks vote in a primary election aimed at selecting candidates for the September elections in Hong Kong.—Reuters

SYDNEY: The Australian government says it will offer around 10,000 Hong Kong passport holders currently living in Australia a chance to apply for permanent residence once their current visas expire.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s government believes China’s imposition of a new tough national security law on the semi-autonomous territory means pro-democracy supporters may face political persecution.

That means that many Hong Kong passport holders may be looking for other destinations to go to and hence why we have put forward our additional visa options for them, Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge told Australian Broadcasting Corp. television on Sunday.

In order to obtain permanent residency, applicants would still have to pass "the character test, the national security test and the like," Tudge said.

So its not automatic. But its certainly an easier pathway to permanent residency and of course once you’re a permanent resident, there’s then a pathway to citizenship there,” he said.

If people are genuinely persecuted and they can prove that case, then they can apply for one of our humanitarian visas in any case.

Morrison announced last week Australia suspended its extradition treaty with Hong Kong and extended visas for Hong Kong residents from two to five years.

The move comes after China bypassed Hong Kong’s Legislative Council to impose the sweeping security legislation without public consultation.

Critics view it as a further deterioration of freedoms promised to the former British colony, in response to last years massive protests calling for greater democracy and more police accountability.

The national security law prohibits what Beijing views as secessionist, subversive or terrorist activities or as foreign intervention in Hong Kong affairs. Under the law, police now have sweeping powers to conduct searches without warrants and order internet service providers and platforms to remove messages deemed to be in violation of the legislation.

China’s foreign ministry said it reserved the right to take further actions in response to moves by Canberra. The consequences will be fully borne by Australia, spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters at a daily briefing on Thursday.

Published in Dawn, July 13th, 2020

Opinion

Editorial

Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...
New terror wave
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

New terror wave

The time has come for decisive government action against militancy.
Development costs
27 Mar, 2024

Development costs

A HEFTY escalation of 30pc in the cost of ongoing federal development schemes is one of the many decisions where the...
Aitchison controversy
Updated 27 Mar, 2024

Aitchison controversy

It is hoped that higher authorities realise that politics and nepotism have no place in schools.