China Condemns UK’s Expansion of Hong Kong Visa Scheme After Jimmy Lai Verdict

China’s embassy in London on Tuesday denounced the UK government’s decision to broaden eligibility for the British National Overseas (BNO) visa scheme, using unusually strong language to describe the move as “despicable” and “reprehensible.” The criticism followed Hong Kong’s conviction and sentencing of Jimmy Lai, one of the most prominent pro-democracy figures prosecuted under the national security law.

The UK announced on Monday that children of BNO status holders — who were under 18 at the time of Hong Kong’s handover from Britain to China in 1997 — would now be able to apply for the visa independently. The scheme, launched in 2021 after Beijing imposed the national security law, has already enabled more than 230,000 Hong Kong residents to secure visas, with nearly 170,000 relocating to Britain.

In a statement, China’s embassy argued that the program had encouraged Hong Kong residents to leave their homes only to face hardship and discrimination in the UK. Beijing has consistently opposed the BNO route, saying it violates agreements made at the time of Hong Kong’s return to Chinese sovereignty.

The diplomatic dispute is closely tied to the sentencing of Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily, who was convicted of colluding with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials. The sentence is the longest imposed so far under the national security law and has reignited concerns over press freedom and political dissent in Hong Kong.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised Lai’s case with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a visit to Beijing last month, urging his release. The UK government said the verdict highlighted a deterioration of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong and confirmed it would continue to press Beijing on Lai’s case. Officials estimate that the expanded visa scheme could bring around 26,000 more Hong Kong residents to the UK over the next five years.

Hong Kong’s leader John Lee defended the ruling, saying Lai deserved severe punishment for harming society and colluding with foreign forces. Meanwhile, international reactions have continued to mount. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the sentence as unjust and called for humanitarian parole for Lai.

The episode underscores widening tensions between China and Western governments over Hong Kong’s future, as Beijing insists the national security law is necessary for stability, while critics argue it has accelerated an erosion of civil liberties and driven an exodus of residents seeking political and personal security abroad.