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William Yiu

More than 163,000 Hongkongers have arrived in the UK since the British government introduced a bespoke pathway for residents in 2021, authorities have said.
The British government also said it would hold a consultation later this year to look at whether its recent proposals to tighten immigration rules would apply to Hongkongers.
The Home Office, which deals with immigration, announced on Thursday that 163,400 people had arrived in the United Kingdom under the British National (Overseas) visa scheme as of March this year, an increase of 2,220, or 1.3 per cent, from 161,200 in December.
“BN(O) visa applications, grants and arrivals have continued to decrease since 2021,” the office said in its quarterly figures for immigration.
A total of 179,258 out-of-country visas had been granted and 44,646 in-country extensions.
Britain introduced the new visa scheme in January 2021 for Hong Kong residents in response to Beijing’s imposition of a national security law on the city.
London said the law constituted a “clear and serious breach” of the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, which outlined the terms for Hong Kong’s return to Chinese rule in 1997.
About 5.4 million of Hong Kong’s 7.5 million people are eligible for the scheme. It allows successful applicants and their dependants to live, work, and study in the UK for up to five years. After this period, they can apply for permanent residency and then apply for British citizenship after one more year.
However, on May 12, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled proposals aimed at reducing net immigration to the country.
The announcement followed a record surge in net migration to the UK, which exceeded 900,000 people in the year ending June 2023, quadrupling from 224,000 in June 2019.
Under the plans outlined in a new white paper to tighten immigration policies, the standard qualifying period for settlement will be doubled from five years to 10.
Crucially, the white paper did not explicitly state whether Hongkongers who had already relocated or planned to settle in the UK under the BN(O) pathway would be affected by the changes.

In response to inquiries from some MPs regarding the effect on the BN(O) pathway, Migration and Citizenship Minister Seema Malhotra said on Tuesday and Wednesday that the government remained committed to supporting Hongkongers who have moved to the UK and those who might do so in the future.
She added that further details of all measures announced in the white paper would be provided in due course.
“The reforms set out in the white paper will be delivered across this parliament. Some measures will require primary legislation and further consultation, while others will be brought in more swiftly,” she said, adding there would be consultation on new earned settlement and citizenship rules later this year.
She said the government had reformulated current settlement rules so that individuals had to earn their right to privileged immigration status in the UK through the long-term contribution they brought to the country.
“We will be consulting on the earned settlement scheme later this year and will provide details of how the scheme will work after that, including which immigration routes it will apply to,” she said.
In light of the developments, a group advocating for Hongkongers’ rights in the UK launched a petition, urging Starmer’s government to maintain the BN(O) pathway in its current form of five years’ residency to be eligible for settled status, followed by an additional twelve months for British citizenship.


Why new UK education, income rules are likely to hit Hong Kong BN(O) migrants hard

UK education, income rules likely to hit Hong Kong BN(O) migrants hard: survey

UK back-pedals on tougher English language test for Hongkongers on BN(O) pathway

Platform for Hong Kong BN(O) visa holders launches campaign against new UK rules

British National (Overseas) passport

163,400 Hongkongers arrive in the UK under BN(O) visa since 2021

The Embankment in London is a popular for sightseers in the British capital. Photo: AFP

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government is proposing to tighten immigration rules. Photo: AFP

How will UK’s hardening stance on migration affect Hongkongers on BN(O) visas?

The UK has not clarified whether Hong Kong’s BN(O) passport holders who have migrated or plan to move to the Britain under a bespoke scheme will be affected by new migration curbs. Photo: EPA-EFE

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has unveiled proposals to cut net immigration to the country. Photo: EPA-EFE

Get a second job? Stick it out? Hongkongers on BN(O) visas rue rule changes

Visa applicants and their adult dependants would also be required to take English tests under the UK government’s plans. Photo: EPA-EFE

The United Kingdom launched the BN(O) pathway for Hongkongers in January 2021 in response to the introduction of the Beijing-decreed national security law. Photo: EPA-EFE

News

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Economy

Number of Hong Kong residents moving to UK under bespoke visa has increased by 2,220, or 1.3 per cent, since December


Number of Hong Kong residents moving to UK under bespoke visa has increased by 2,220, or 1.3 per cent, since December.


163,400 Hongkongers arrive in the UK under BN(O) visa since 2021

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Number of Hong Kong residents moving to UK under bespoke visa has increased by 2,220, or 1.3 per cent, since December

Number of Hong Kong residents moving to UK under bespoke visa has increased by 2,220, or 1.3 per cent, since December