Australia may offer safe haven to HKong residents

Australian Prime Minister on Wednesday said country was still considering an offer of safe haven to Hong Kong residents threatened by Beijing's new national security law on semi-automous Chinese territory.

PM Scott Morrison told reporters his government continues to be concerned about situation in Hong Kong.

"se are decisions for Australia about who we provide visas to and on what terms and over what period of time. y're Australian sovereign issues. y aren't about or countries, y are about our country," he said.

"And so we'll make decisions about our visa program and how we run than accordance with rules that we set, he ded.

Australia could cancel an extrition treaty with Hong Kong after China cracked down on city.

On Tuesday, Australia warned its citizens that y may be at risk of "arbitrary detention" if y visit China, in a move that will furr test strained bilateral relations.

It is t clear what prompted warning, which comes as bilateral relations between free tre partners have plummeted over Australia's calls for an independent investigation into origins of coronavirus pandemic, believed to have begun in China last year.