Advertisement
Hong Kong national security law
ChinaDiplomacy

Britain unveils details of citizenship offer for Hongkongers with BN(O) passports

  • An estimated 2.9 million people from Hong Kong will be able to apply to resettle in Britain from January
  • The historic policy change is a response to Beijing imposing a national security law in the city

Reading Time:2 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
A protester holds up a BN(O) passport during a rally in Hong Kong in October. The British home secretary said BN(O) citizens in the city were “in a unique position”. Photo: Nora Tam
Stuart Lau

Hongkongers with British National (Overseas) passports will be exempted from income tests during their five-year stay in Britain before they can apply for full citizenship, the Home Office said as it unveiled details of a historic policy change on Wednesday.

From January, an estimated 2.9 million eligible Hongkongers will be able to apply to resettle in Britain, together with their dependents, including their children, and even other adult dependents in “compelling” and “exceptional” circumstances.

“My offer to BN(O) citizens is a very generous one,” Home Secretary Priti Patel said. “I welcome warmly all those who decide to take it.”

Advertisement

Hongkongers whose BN(O) passports have expired will not need to renew them immediately to take up the offer – they will be able to use another passport, such as the one issued by Hong Kong, to arrive in Britain, where border officers can access their BN(O) record electronically.

00:45

Dominic Raab says new BN(O) citizenship arrangements will be ready for Hong Kong by early 2021

Dominic Raab says new BN(O) citizenship arrangements will be ready for Hong Kong by early 2021
The historic change to the rights of Hongkongers born during the colonial era is a response to Beijing’s imposition of a national security law in Hong Kong, which Westminster has decried as a serious violation of human rights and a breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x