The report was published Monday, the second day of the NPC annual session, citing a new delegate, a former delegate and another person briefed on the selection process.

“At least one NPC delegate intending to seek another term was denied a seat because they held a BNO (British National Overseas),” according to the report.

While Beijing had previously said that BNO holders were eligible for the NPC, the move is to send out a message to the candidates that “either you give it [the passport] up or you don’t run,” the report quoted another former delegate saying so.

The FT also spoke to Lau Siu-kai, vice-president of the Chinese Association of Hong Kong and Macao Studies, who said holding foreign passports or travel documents could be a security risk as China is facing increasing national security threats from the US and the west.

“When Britain has been offering BN(O) as a pathway to residency and citizenship … it creates questions of loyalty,” Lau said.

The report also referred to previous remarks of former chief executive Leung Chun-ying that all political figures in Hong Kong should give up foreign passports.