Source: World Wide Web
【Global Network Report】The Australian government has provoked again! Comprehensive British Reuters, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (abc) reported that the Australian government claimed on November 1 local time that it will officially introduce two types of permanent residence visas to Hong Kong people living in Australia.
Screenshot of the Reuters report
Alex Hawke, Australia's minister for immigration, citizenship and multicultural affairs, claimed that about 9,000 Hong Kongers with temporary visas in Australia would be eligible to apply for permanent residence visas that open in March next year, ABC said.
Hawke also defended the Australian side's actions, saying that "these new visas (regulations) will provide a way for Hong Kong graduates and technicians who are currently living in Australia temporarily through extended visas" to allow them to stay in Australia for a longer period of time, and this provision will be based on the so-called close economic ties with Hong Kong for many years.
The Australian government's move has also attracted the attention of the Hong Kong media. Hong Kong's Oriental Daily said that the Australian government has issued the Immigration Legislation Amendment (Hong Kong) Ordinance 2021, mentioning that there will be new "skilled immigrant independence visa" and "skilled immigrant permanent residence visa in remote areas", hong Kong SAR passport holders or British national (overseas) (bno) passport holders can apply, applicants must hold Australian temporary skilled migrant work visa, temporary skill shortage visa or temporary graduate visa. Records from the Australian Immigration Department show that as of July 2021, about 9,250 Hong Kongers in Australia applied for permanent residence visas in one and a half years, of which 6,000 were successful.
It is worth mentioning that Australia has been premeditated to revise the content of visas for Hong Kong people for a long time. After the promulgation and implementation of the Hong Kong National Security Law, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on July 9 last year that he would extend the visa period for Hong Kong people and provide a way to apply for permanent residence.
The Chinese side strongly condemns Australia's gross interference in China's internal affairs. At a regular press conference held on July 9 last year, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that China urged the Australian side to immediately change course and stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any way, so as not to cause further damage to China-Australia relations.
ABC reported in August last year that Australia's new visa rules for Hong Kong residents came into effect on the 21st of that month. The new visa arrangement means that up to 10,000 Hong Kong passport holders in Australia will be able to extend their stay by 5 years and obtain permanent residency in Australia after passing the relevant character, safety and health checks at the end of the 5-year period. Under the new visa policy announced by the Australian government, HKSAR passport holders with temporary graduate visas or temporary skill shortage visas will automatically extend their visas for 5 years.
In March, Australian media reported that the Australian government had issued so-called "humanitarian" visas to some Hong Kong SAR passport holders, the first time since 2010. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on March 1 that China's position on Hong Kong-related issues is consistent and clear. Hong Kong is China's Hong Kong, and Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, and no foreign country has the right to interfere. China urges the Australian side to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs and China's internal affairs in any way so as not to cause further damage to China-Australia relations.