China said Friday it will no longer recognize the British National Overseas passport as a valid travel document or form of identification amid a bitter feud with London over a plan to allow millions of Hong Kong residents a route to residency and eventual citizenship.

The announcement was made by Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian at a daily press briefing.

Under the plan, as many as 5.4 million Hong Kong residents could be entitled to live and work in the U.K. for 5 years then apply for citizenship. Demand soared after Beijing last year imposed a sweeping new national security law on the former British colony following months of pro-democracy protests.

This comes hours after the British government announced a new scheme, under which people with British National (Overseas) status will be able to apply to live and work in the UK for up to five years and eventually seek citizenship.

British National Overseas is a class of British nationality that was granted by voluntary registration to Hong Kong residents who had been British Dependent Territories citizens before the transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997.

"Britain has ignored the fact that Hong Kong has already been returned to China for 24 years," South China Morning Post quoted Zhao as saying. He accused London of ignoring Beijing's "stern stance" against the new BN(O) policy, adding it would turn Hong Kongers into "second-class citizens". 

Zhao said the BN(O) scheme was no longer one that had been agreed upon by both sides.

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