Roll-out of Britain’s visa scheme for Hong Kong BN(O) passport holders ‘slow’ and ‘inefficient’, shadow minister for Asia says

‘Extraordinary’ that only 20 per cent of applications processed in first quarter, says Stephen Kinnock, calling for more government support for those making move

But Home Office notes early figures show only the first eight weeks of applications in a process where decisions can take up to 12 weeks

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About 20 per cent of visa scheme applicants were approved in the first quarter, a figure Britain’s shadow Minister for Asia Stephen Kinnock says it not high enough. Photo: Winson Wong

Published: 7:00pm, 13 Aug 2021Updated: 8:58pm, 13 Aug 2021

Britain’s shadow minister for Asia Stephen Kinnock has criticised Boris Johnson’s government’s roll-out of a visa scheme for Hongkongers with British National (Overseas) passports as “slow” and “inefficient”, six months after the application process officially opened.

In an interview with the South China Morning Post, Kinnock said it was “extraordinary” that “only 20 per cent” of applications had been processed in the first quarter.

“I worry about the 80 per cent who put in applications and are waiting to hear from the Home Office. But I’m sure that the authorities in Hong Kong are very aware of the fact that they’ve done this, and that worries me,” the Welsh Labour Party member of parliament said.

According to British government statistics, about 21 per cent of 34,000 applications for a British National Overseas BN(O) visa made in the first quarter of 2021 were granted, meaning more than three-quarters had either not been processed or granted. The government is set to release second-quarter statistics at the end of August.

Labour Party MP Stephen Kinnock told the Post he believes more must be done for emigrating Hongkongers. Photo: Getty Images

Amid reports of those who have made the move struggling to access local services, find accommodation and jobs, Kinnock urged the government to offer more support.