How will UK's hardening stance on migration affect Hongkongers on BN(O) visas?
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled proposals to cut net immigration to the country, sparking concerns among Hongkongers about how it will affect the bespoke pathway – British National (Overseas) visa – launched in 2021.
While the British government did not reveal whether the proposed measures would cover the BN(O) pathway, it said back in 2020 that the scheme would be reviewed in October 2025.
The Post reviews the possible changes and what they could mean for Hongkongers.
1. What is the BN(O) pathway and who is eligible?
Britain launched the visa scheme in response to Beijing's imposition of a national security law on Hong Kong in June 2020, which London said constituted a 'clear and serious breach' of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration that outlined the terms for the city's return to Chinese rule.
An estimated 5.4 million of Hong Kong's 7.5 million people are eligible for the scheme that allows successful applicants and their dependents to live, work and study in the UK for up to five years. They can then apply for citizenship after six years.
Since its introduction on 31 January 2021 to 2024, more than 200,000 BN(O) visas have been approved, with 161,200 having arrived in Britain, according to the UK Home Office.
2. Why is the UK tightening immigration rules and what will change?
Net migration to the UK hit a record of more than 900,000 people in June 2023 and quadrupled from its level of 224,000 in June 2019, reaching about 700,000 for the year ending June 2024, according to the white paper 'Restoring Control over the Immigration System' published on Monday.
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