制定可靠路線重新確立英國對香港人的承諾

Charting a Safe Course: Re-establishing UK Commitments to Hong Kong Citizens

為確認英國於印度—太平洋（下稱「印太」）地區事務的參與並履行其對英國海外領土的義務，英國政府的首要目標必定是增強對最近受香港政治變化影響的香港公民的承諾。中華人民共和國（下稱「中國」）對香港司法獨立的逐步侵犯，以及香港當局隨後實施的制裁鎮壓，所反映的是對1984年簽訂的《中英聯合聲明》及其根基「一國兩制」原則的故意違反。英國對中國共產黨（下稱「中共」）侵略的消極反應將挑起對國際規則的進一步挑戰，同時損害英國在印太地區的信譽，並拉開英國與其海外領土之間的距離。
有鑒於保護在港英國海外國民為英國政府首要目標，本報告會先分析引致香港社會動蕩的因素，再提出經修訂後的英國國民（海外）簽證（下稱「BN(O)」）方案。雖然目前的BN(O)政策值得讚揚，但該計劃應該得到加強，以消除申請簽證時的障礙，並保護香港抗議者中大部分沒有資格參加BN(O)計劃的一群。此報告亦概述為BN(O)持有人抵達英國後提供經濟援助的選擇，並討論在英國的BN(O)持有人容易受到中共監控的可能。這暴露英國的國家基礎設施更容易受到中共監控的脆弱性。這些政策將保護英國公民、BN(O)持有者，以及英國國家安全，亦會向中共發出信號，表明英國將堅定捍衛其國家主權。此報告建議修訂並制定一個更具參與性的BN(O)簽證計畫、經濟援助政策和更嚴格的反監視政策。

To affirm the UK’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific and uphold its obligations to its Overseas Territories, the UK Government’s primary objective must be to enhance its commitment to Hong Kong citizens recently affected by political change in Hong Kong. The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) gradual violation of Hong Kong’s legislative independence and subsequent sanctioned repression by Hong Kong authorities represent a deliberate breach of the‘one country, two systems’principle underpinning the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration (SBJD). A passive UK response to aggressions by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) would invite further challenges to international rules, undermine the UK’s credibility in the Indo- Pacific, and foster distance between the UK and its Overseas Territories.
In light of the UK Government’s primary objective to protect Hong Kong-UK citizens, this policy report analyses events leading up to social unrest in Hong Kong and subsequently devised the UK's British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa scheme. While current BN(O) visa policy can be commended, the scheme should be enhanced to remove barriers to visa application and protect the demographic majority of Hong Kong protesters currently ineligible for the BN(O) scheme. The report also outlines options for financial assistance for BN(O) holders on UK arrival, and addresses the vulnerability of BN(O) holders in the UK to CCP surveillance, given the likely use of surveillance to track BN(O) holders in the UK. This exposes a wider vulnerability to CCP surveillance in the UK’s national infrastructure. These policies will protect both UK citizens and BN(O) holders, as well as UK national security, but will also signal to the CCP that the UK remains firm in the defence of its national sovereignty. The report recommends a revised, more engaged BN(O) visa scheme, a financial assistance policy, and a stricter anti-surveillance policy.