Covid-19 lockdown tempers interest in UK property from Hongkongers in lull before January visa floodgate

Name: UK unveils details of citizenship offer for Hongkongers with BN(O) passport holders
Uploaded: 2020-12-01T07:30:12.000Z
Duration: 3 min 14 s
Description: UK unveils details of citizenship offer for Hongkongers with BN(O) passport holders

Interest among Hongkongers in the UK property market has soared in the run-up to special visa process in January

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Pedestrians wearing face masks to combat the spread of the coronavirus, walk down Oxford Street in central London on November 27 as life under a second lockdown continues in England. Photo: AFP

Ethan Paul

Published: 3:30pm, 1 Dec 2020Updated: 11:40am, 2 Dec 2020

A resurgence in Covid-19 cases in the UK in recent months has stemmed the flow of Hongkongers looking to buy property and relocate there. This may just be a lull before a special visa process kicks off in January for British National (Overseas) passport holders.

The British government imposed a second national lockdown in early November after a sharp uptick in Covid-19 infections. It will transition to more flexible restrictions starting December 2 at a time when it’s liberalising immigration policy for Hongkongers in reaction to China imposing a national security law on Hong Kong in June.

The government will accept applications from January 31 from BN (O) passport holders and their immediate family members for a special class of visa that puts them on the path to UK citizenship. Hongkongers were the second busiest foreign buyers of UK property from January to September this year, according to Astons.

“At the moment, it’s a trickle because of Covid-19,” said Kevin Bowers, a Hong Kong-based lawyer at Bowers Law. “I expect the flood to start again and anticipate thousands of applications for us” which may inundate the immigration services by then, he added.

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UK unveils details of citizenship offer for Hongkongers with BN(O) passport holders

Bowers is organising a consortium of companies to deliver “the whole package” to those considering uprooting themselves from the city, including education, property, cultural assimilation, and even pet relocation services.

Hongkongers bought £305.6 million (US$405 million) of prime London houses in the first nine months of the year, making them the busiest foreign investors after the French, investment immigration adviser Astons said last month.