Britain plans extension of BN(O) visa scheme to allow Hongkongers aged 18 to 24 to apply independently of parents
- U-turn comes amid mounting pressure on UK government to endorse amendments proposed in December and earlier this month in parliament to enable extension
- About 103,900 Hongkongers applied for new pathway to British citizenship in first year of the visa scheme, with 97,057 winning approval, new figures show
The U-turn came amid mounting pressure on the government to endorse two cross-party-backed amendments proposed in parliament in December and earlier this month to enable the extension. The government turned down the December amendment, saying it was too broad and did not contain safeguards against age limits and residency.
According to the latest statistics, about 103,900 Hongkongers applied for the new pathway to British citizenship in the first year of the scheme, with 97,057 winning approval, continuing a recent wave of emigration from the city.
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The BN(O) visa scheme allows successful applicants to live, work and study in the country for up to five years, and apply for citizenship after six. But only Hongkongers born before June 30, 1997 – the day before the city’s handover from British to Chinese rule – are eligible for BN(O) status, making even the youngest recipients 25 years of age now.
Currently, adult children of a BN(O) status holder can apply as dependants if they do so at the same time as the parent, and were born on or after July 1, 1997.
Announcing the extension of the visa scheme, immigration minister Kevin Foster admitted the current arrangements were unfair to some families.
Some people were not able to access the scheme because their BN(O) parents did not wish to apply, because they were not part of their parent’s household, or they were unable to apply at the same time, he said in a statement on Thursday.