UK ‘committed’ to BN(O) visa route, but lack of details keeps Hongkongers in limbo

The United Kingdom has said it is committed to the British National (Overseas) pathway to permanent residency for Hongkongers, but uncertainties over the country’s tougher stance on immigration have left thousands of applicants anxious about their future.

Responding to inquiries from the Post, a spokeswoman for the British Home Office on Tuesday did not give a clear answer on whether Hong Kong’s BN(O) passport holders who had migrated or planned to move to the UK under the bespoke pathway introduced in 2021 would be affected by the Labour Party’s plans to tighten its immigration policies.

She only said the UK remained committed to the “humanitarian route” of the BN(O), despite announcing plans to cut migration to Britain.

According to a white paper published by British authorities on Monday, the tightened immigration measures include requiring visa applicants and their adult dependants to take English tests. Migrants will also have to wait 10 years to apply to settle in the UK, instead of being granted residency status automatically after five years.

The spokeswoman said the UK government acknowledged concerns over its white paper and how it would affect Hongkongers’ pathway to permanent residency in Britain, but declined to provide further details.

“I do want to point out that the white paper does make clear that we’re committed to a humanitarian route like the BN(O) [visa]. There isn’t anything further we can say on BN(O) visas at the moment, just that more details are going to be available in due course,” she said.