Australia to offer residence option to 10,000 Hong Kong citizens

PM Scott Morrison's government believes China's imposition of a new tough national security law on the semi-autonomous territory means pro-democracy supporters may face political persecution

The Australian government says it will offer around 10,000 Hong Kong passport holders currently living in Australia a chance to apply for permanent residence once their current visas expire.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government believes China's imposition of a new tough national security law on the semi-autonomous territory means pro-democracy supporters may face political persecution.

That means that many Hong Kong passport holders may be looking for other destinations to go to and hence why we have put forward our additional visa options for them, Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge told Australian Broadcasting Corporation television on Sunday.

In order to obtain permanent residency,