The recent speculations about mainland authorities acting illegally in Hong Kong has sparked online chats about reviving BN(O) passports. Image: Shutterstock
The disappearance of bookseller Lee Bo has sparked online discussions as to whether Hongkongers should renew their British National Overseas passports, known as BN(O), amid claims of erosion of the "One country, Two systems" principle.
There are about 3.4 million holders of the BN(O) passport – which offers consular protection outside China but no permanent abode in the UK.
A prominent social commentator, Chip Tsao, said he is unsurprised by the debate, given a string of unhappy incidents. “Especially the mysterious disappearance of the five publishers, one by one,” he said.
He was referring to the disappearance of five people linked to a bookstore in Causeway Bay which used to sell titles that were critical – and some gossipy – of the mainland leaders. Lee, 65, a shareholder of Causeway Bay Books and a British passport holder, went missing from Hong Kong last week amid allegations that mainland authorities illegally took him away.
But Chip said a passport is not a document just for travel convenience but also a symbol of loyalty. Those who opt for BN(O) passport must give up their SAR passport and not sit on the fence, he said.
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1234186-20160107.htm
