Beijing slams UK over visa fast track for Hong Kong’s BN(O) holders, calls on London to stop ‘staging hypocrisy shows’

UK says BN(O) holders can now pay an extra £500, on top of existing application fees, to get a visa decision within five working days

Chinese embassy in UK expresses ongoing opposition towards Britain’s ‘manipulation of the BN(O) visa scheme’ and interference into former’s internal affairs

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Beijing has slammed London for introducing a fast-track option for Hongkongers applying to the BN(O) visa scheme. Photo: Felix Wong

Published: 5:53pm, 16 Aug 2023Updated: 7:35pm, 16 Aug 2023

Beijing has called on the UK to “stop staging its hypocrisy shows”, after the country introduced a priority visa option for Hongkongers with British National (Overseas) passports.

The Chinese embassy in London on Tuesday evening expressed its ongoing opposition towards Britain’s “manipulation of the BN(O) visa scheme” and interference in China’s internal affairs.

“Facts have fully proven that what the UK has done is a far cry from ‘protecting’ the people of Hong Kong, but aims to smear and disrupt Hong Kong. Such attempts will never succeed,” a spokesman said.

The British Home Office on Monday said the fast-track option would be made available to BN(O) holders “who need to travel urgently”.

Candidates applying under the priority visa route must pay an extra £500 (US$635) on top of the existing application fees to get a decision within five working days.

Beijing slams UK over visa fast track for Hong Kong’s BN(O) holders, calls on London to stop ‘staging hypocrisy shows’

UK says BN(O) holders can now pay an extra £500, on top of existing application fees, to get a visa decision within five working days Chinese embassy in UK expresses ongoing opposition towards Britain’s ‘manipulation of the BN(O) visa scheme’ and interference into former’s internal affairs