Yes I saw that. But it's nothing new to what his lapdog foreign secretary, Dominic Rabbs been saying. And no one took him seriously because he has nothing to offer to up the ante.
So Boris just repeats it thinking, like a lie (And he's a great lier) if it gets repeated enough time, people will start beliving it and take it seriously.
Let's analyse this critically, offering extend stays means zilch. Because these thugs wanted PERMANENT (I'm not shouting just emphasis and I can't make it bold or italic) residents. A demand no British government can meet! (Look at the trouble it got itself into with just 28,000 Asians).
Sure they sex it up like the Iraqi WMD by promising that from this extended stay, there'd be a POSSIBILITY of further application for permanent residency! Sure, some like Doctors, and other professionals would get this, but the rest of the unworthy lots will be sent packing on the first plane back to Hong Kong when the extended periods is up!
The British government is holding a lousy pair in a game of poker with China, and China knows it! So it keeps on repeating it for its own public consumption and to the world media. Pathetic really!