China will presently don’t perceive the British National Overseas visa as a legitimate travel archive or evidence of personality, Foreign Ministry representative Zhao Lijian said Friday.

The declaration comes in the midst of uplifted strains with the United Kingdom over its arrangement to offer possibly a great many Hong Kong occupants a way to residency, and inevitable citizenship.

England is set to start tolerating applications from Hong Kong inhabitants for a unique BNO visa late Sunday.

While the BNO passport has been being used for quite a long time, pressure has been working for the U.K. to extend the privileges of its holders, particularly in the wake of Beijing forced a draconian public security law on the previous British province a year ago.

Some 5.4 million Hong Kong occupants could be qualified for the BNO visa.

What they’re saying: “The British side’s attempt to turn a large number of Hong Kong people into second-class British citizens has completely changed the nature of the two sides’ original understanding of BNO,” Zhao told.

“This move seriously infringes on China’s sovereignty, grossly interferes in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs, and seriously violates international law and the basic norms of international relations,” he said, adding that China will quit perceiving the visas starting Sunday.

Between the lines: “Many Hong Kongers carry multiple passports and it is unclear what if anything the Chinese government could do to prevent people entering the U.K. through the BNO visa plan”.

“As a further protection of personal privacy, a cellphone app will allow applicants to download their biometric information without having to been seen visiting the British visa office”.

English Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in an articulation Friday, “I am immensely proud that we have brought in this new route for Hong Kong BN(O)s to live, work and make their home in our country”.

“In doing so we have honored 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.”