Last modified on Fri 29 Jan 2021 01.53 EST
Top story: ‘Standing up for freedom and autonomy’
Hello, Warren Murray pleased to be with you for this fifth and final Briefing of the week.
In response to China’s security crackdown in Hong Kong, Britain has launched its visa scheme inviting many residents of the former colony move to and eventually settle in the UK. Applications open on Sunday and the government predicts more than 300,000 people may take up the offer over the next five years, bringing in between £2.4 and £2.9bn to the UK by 2025.
Boris Johnson announced that Hong Kong citizens who hold British National (Overseas) status and their dependants would be able to live, study and work in Britain for five years and eventually apply for citizenship. Britain accuses China of breaching the terms of the 1997 handover by introducing security laws that the UK and other countries say are being used to silence dissent. “In doing so we have honoured our profound ties of history and friendship with the people of Hong Kong, and we have stood up for freedom and autonomy – values both the UK and Hong Kong hold dear,” said the prime minister. China says the path to citizenship interferes with its internal affairs.