British group says hundreds of Hongkongers have shown interest in new BN(O) visa scheme

Group urges British authorities to use discretion in dealing with criminal records as some questionnaire respondents said they were arrested during protests

The organisation, known as Hongkongers in Britain, was founded by ex-consulate employee Simon Cheng, who was detained on the last year

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Hong Kong activists march to the British consulate in Admiralty last year to call for full citizenship for BN(O) passport holders. Photo: Nora Tam

Published: 10:39pm, 11 Dec 2020Updated: 2:17am, 12 Dec 2020

Nearly 300 Hongkongers have told a civil society group in Britain they intend to take part in a new BN(O) visa scheme – a first step towards earning citizenship in the city’s former colonial ruler – with about half planning to apply as soon as the process opens in January.

The group, known as Hongkongers in Britain, distributed a questionnaire to some 2,000 of its social media followers, with 315 responding. Of those respondents – most of them based in Hong Kong, and possessing university degrees – more than 270 said they would take advantage of the new British National (Overseas) visa scheme, in spite of lingering concerns over finding a home and a job.

The group is now recommending the British government prepare for an influx of children into the state school system after the vast majority of parents questioned said they wished to immigrate with their kids.

It is also urging immigration authorities to exercise discretion for applicants with criminal records after a small proportion of respondents – around 2 per cent – said they had been arrested in connection with last year’s anti-government protests. Applicants for the BN(O) visas have to pass criminal background checks, and must have no serious convictions.

Some of those interested in applying for the new BN(O) visas were arrested during last year’s protests. Photo: Dickson Lee

Julian Chan, head of public affairs for Hongkongers in Britain, said the group did not endorse criminal behaviour, but rather was asking the Home Office to take into account what he called cases of “political persecution”.