China on Friday said it will “no longer recognize” the British National (Overseas) passport for Hong Kongers

“From January 31, China will no longer recognize the so-called BNO passport as a travel document and ID document, and reserves the right to take further actions,” foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters.

The practical result of the declaration is currently hard to estimate, but the move comes in response to the UK’s new rules that make it easier for Hong Kong nationals holding BNO passports to move into the UK.

Starting from Sunday, Hong Kong BNO holders will be able to apply to live and work in Britain for up to five years, and eventually seek citizenship.

“I am immensely proud that we have brought in this new route for Hong Kong BNOs to live, work and make their home in our country,” UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement.

The new rules were introduced as London spatted with Beijing over the latter’s encroachment on Hong Kong’s semi-autonomous status.

The UK says it is acting in response to a National Security Law imposed by China last year which has devastated Hong Kong’s democracy movement and shredded freedoms meant to last 50 years under the 1997 handover accord.

China, for its part, has been angrily dismissing the criticisms from abroad, accusing foreign nations of meddling in its domestic affairs.