Thousands Of HK People Seek BNO Visas: Report

Hong Kong people are applying for the bespoke visa route for British National Overseas passport holders at a rate of 3,000 per week, The Times newspaper reported on Friday, quoting leaked figures.

More than 35,000 British National Overseas (BNO) citizens from Hong Kong have applied for the five-year scheme, The Times reported.

The immigration route was offered to Hong Kong people in light of Beijing’s crackdown in the territory.

The British Home Office has forecast that between 123,000 and 153,000 BNO citizens and their dependants will apply in the first year, the newspaper reported.

It said some 350,000 Hongkongers hold BNO passports and a further 2.5 million are eligible for one.

With an additional 2.5 million dependants, up to 5.4 million Hongkongers could apply for the visa and a path to full British citizenship.

The UK government has put no limits on the number who could be admitted but expects many to stay in Hong Kong or prefer to move to places in the region, such as Taiwan or Singapore.

The permanent scheme offers a much more generous visa than previous routes for Hongkongers, including five years’ leave to remain. After the five years they will be able to apply for settled status and after a further 12 months they will be able to apply for citizenship.

This month London announced a £43 million fund to help Hongkongers to integrate into local communities. The programme will use 12 “welcome hubs” to help them to access housing, education and employment to build a life in the UK.

A British government spokesman said: “This new visa route reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to those people of Hong Kong who chose to retain their ties to the UK by taking up BNO status . . . [they] will be expected to be self-sufficient and contribute to UK society and the implementation of this visa is estimated to have a net positive impact on the UK.”