Britain offers millions of Hongkongers residency rights and path to citizenship after national security law implemented
- Around 3 million holders of the BN(O) passport and their dependents will be allowed to move to UK for five years and then apply for permanent residency
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson announces new rights after imposition of law Britain says is a ‘clear and serious’ breach of the agreement guaranteeing autonomy
Millions of Hongkongers eligible for British National (Overseas) passports, their spouses and underage children will be allowed to resettle in the UK and given a path to British citizenship, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday.
The historic change to the rights of Hongkongers born during the colonial era was announced hours after China officially imposed a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong.
“The enactment and imposition of this national security law constitutes a clear and serious breach of the Sino British Joint Declaration,” Johnson told Parliament.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab told Parliament that holders of BN(O) passports would have the right to remain for five years after which they can apply for settled status – effectively giving them permanent residency. After 12 months of settled status, they can apply for citizenship.
Raab added: “There will be no quotas on numbers.”
“This is a special, bespoke set of arrangements developed for the unique circumstances we face and in light of our historic commitment to the people of Hong Kong,” Raab said.