Latest news with #BN(O)
South China Morning Post
15-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Weigh ethical factors before tightening BN(O) visa rules for Hongkongers: report
Tightening the British National (Overseas) settlement pathway for Hongkongers is unlikely to hurt the country economically, but authorities should weigh foreign policy and ethical considerations, a UK government advisory committee report has said. Advertisement The Net Migration Report was submitted to the government in January but published on Tuesday, a day after the UK announced plans to cut the number of immigrants to the country significantly. The report was compiled by the Migration Advisory Committee, which is sponsored by Britain's Home Office. The office has not provided a clear answer on whether Hong Kong's BN(O) passport holders who have migrated or plan to move to the UK under the bespoke pathway will be affected, only saying that Britain remained committed to the 'humanitarian route' of the BN(O) scheme. The report said the BN(O) pathway, which was categorised as a humanitarian visa, represented a 'small but non-trivial' share of total net migration to the UK, adding that any decision to restrict such schemes 'would likely not be economically costly'. '[It was] not introduced for economic reasons,' the report said. Advertisement 'The trade-off here is between the government's desire to reduce net migration and the foreign policy and ethical considerations that led to the introduction of the visas.'
South China Morning Post
14-03-2025
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong BN(O) passport holders exempt from needing ETA to travel to UK
Hongkongers holding British National (Overseas) passports no longer need to obtain an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) document before travelling to the United Kingdom. Advertisement The UK government updated its website on Thursday to reflect the development, expanding the original exemption that applied to BN(O) visa holders. The change came after migration and citizenship minister Seema Malhotra confirmed the decision in a letter to a member of the parliament last week. She wrote that the decision was based on the fact that the BN(O) passport is issued by the UK, thereby providing a greater level of assurance to the identity of the holder. Malhotra added the move had been made on the basis of the close ties that the BN(O) community has with the UK and the historical commitments made to them. Advertisement Since January, non-European nationals who do not need a visa for short stays in the UK have had to obtain an ETA before arrival. This included Hongkongers who were BN(O) passport holders but did not have a visa.
South China Morning Post
06-03-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
UK exempts Hong Kong BN(O) passport holders from needing ETA ahead of travel
Hongkongers holding British National (Overseas) passports will no longer need to obtain an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) document before heading to the United Kingdom, with London expanding the original exemption that applied to BN(O) visa holders. Advertisement The development came to light in a letter by the migration and citizenship minister, Seema Malhotra, who said BN(O) passport holders would no longer need an ETA to travel to the UK, after the government had 'listened to evidence'. 'This decision has been made on the basis of the close ties that the BN(O) community has with the UK, the historical commitments made to them and, critically, the fact that just like for British citizens with passports, it is the UK issuing their travel documents,' she said in a letter to David Alton, a member of the House of Lords, dated March 3. She added that as the UK had issued the BN(O) passport it had a 'higher degree of certainty' of the identity of an individual. BN(O) passport holders will not need an ETA to enter the UK. Photo: Fung Chang Malhotra said the Home Office would amend the immigration rules 'at the earliest opportunity' and the exemption would be kept under review in case there was any evidence of it being abused.
