On 28 May 2020, the UK government announced that it would offer a ‘pathway to citizenship’ to British National (Overseas) passport holders in Hong Kong if China goes ahead with its plans to implement a controversial new security law in the territory. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Britain said Thursday that China firmly opposes Britain's offer to provide more privileges for Hong Kong residents holding BNO passports, and reserves the right to take corresponding measures. Experts predict this number could surge to 3.5 million this year as a result of the pandemic. The UK said it will expand the visa-free access of Hong Kong's BNO passport holders from six months to five years and give them the right to work and study in Britain during that period. In February, the British government introduced a points-based system for migrants. China opposes UK's citizenship offer to Hong Kong residents. Published 25 August 2015 Last updated 15 July 2020 — see all updates There are currently around 300,000 BNO passport holders in Hong Kong and a further 2.5 to 2.7 million people are eligible to apply for one. Read more: Backgrounder: What is the BNO passport? However, there would be no income test requirement in the path to citizenship or cap on numbers for BNO passport holders from Hong Kong. Only the vaccine can save us now, Exclusive: Test and Trace chaos made me 'lose it' and seek psychiatrist help, Boris Johnson determined to let families meet at Christmas, but urges self isolation beforehand. A survey has found that 93 per cent of British National Overseas (BNO) status holders in Hong Kong intend to emigrate to the UK within three years, as Britain begins a passport visa scheme next month. There were nearly 350,000 BNO passport holders in Hong Kong in February. Meanwhile, some media reports on Friday said the HKSAR government was planning to force its employees to give up their BNO passports. âWe estimate that the number of BNO visa applications within 2021 will double the number of the Home Officeâs Impact Assessment highest estimation,â HKB stated in its report. Announcing preliminary details to the House of Commons on Wednesday, Raab said that BNO passport holders and their dependents in Hong Kong who … The spokesperson also urged the UK to view objectively and fairly the national security legislation for Hong Kong, respect China's position and concerns, and refrain from interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any form. Vincent and Chrissy, who have previously moved from Hong Kong to the UK, said the latest UK citizenship proposal for BNO passport holders was very generous and much more attractive than the previously proposed 12-month visa extension scheme. British National (Overseas) passports were issued to Hongkongers born before the 1997 handover, and under current rules, passport holders can … Boris Johnson announced a new BNO visa scheme in July to welcome more than three million eligible Hong Kongers to Britain, after declaring a new security law a âclear and serious breachâ of the Sino-British declaration that guarantees the former British colony autonomy from Beijing. New pathway to citizenship for Hong Kong BNO passport holders . The two were forced to apply for asylum […] While the UK offers up to 3 million Hong Kong residents the right to work and a pathway to future British citizenship, the country itself is facing serious unemployment problems amid the COVID-19 pandemic. A Hong Kong protester holds up the British National (Overseas) passports, MI6 failed to tell Foreign Secretary about rogue agent involved in 'serious criminality', Dominic Cummings received pay rise of 40 per cent last year, sparking angry backlash, Black applicants significantly more likely to fail RAF selection tests than white counterparts, Stop wasting billions on testing. Of the almost three million people in the city born before handover and therefore eligible for BNO passports… (With input from Xinhua), Copyright © 2020 CGTN. The organisation says the prospective BNO visa holders provide the UK âa fresh workforce that has good qualifications, work experience and is largely self-reliant.âÂ. ... 24/7 coverage of breaking news … Hong Kong BNO passport news update. The BNO passport is basically a travel document that does not carry citizenship rights. China imposed the National Security Law in July to curb civic unrest that began in June 2019.Â. The embassy's spokesperson said that with regard to the BNO passport, in memoranda exchanged between the two sides, the British side declared it would not confer the right of abode to Chinese citizens in Hong Kong holding BNO passports. BNO PASSPORTS. Shows. In July of this year £319,493 had been raised via Gofundme for the 中英聯合聲明登報 UK Ad Campaign to Defend Sino-British JD. Besides, over 2.9 million people are eligible for a BNO passport, as per the British Consulate General in Hong Kong. BNO Community exclusive for Hong Kong watch subscribers. The i newsletter latest news and analysis. They will then be able to apply for settled status and seek official citizenship after a year. The passport was first issued in 1987 after the Hong Kong Act 1985, from which this new class of British nationality was created. The BNO passport was issued to Hong Kong residents before the 1997 handover and allows holders some privilege, such as the ability to travel to Britain visa-free for up to six months. China has strongly rebuked the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada after being accused of a concerted effort to silence critics in Hong Kong. Rory Cellan-Jones explores the practical and ethical issues around digital vaccination records. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. Ways to gain points include reaching a certain income level and work experience. If you’re overseas and need to travel urgently, you may be able to get an emergency travel document. The couple have British National (Overseas) - or BNO - passports, which were issued to Hong Kong residents that registered before the city was handed back to China on July 1997. Travel document without citizenship rights. Good Morning America. HKB also found a typical emigrant is 37 years old, employed, with an average salary of £33,270 per year, a university degree, English language skills, and either studied or works in the business or finance industry. /AP. ... 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. The offer also contradicts the UK's immigration policies, he suggested. Around 300,000 people currently hold a BNO passport, while an estimated 2.9 million people are eligible for it, according to the British Consulate General in Hong Kong. /AP. China's central government voiced its "firm opposition," threatening to withdraw its recognition of BNO Visa already held by some Hong Kong residents. It was issued to people in Hong Kong by the United Kingdom before Hong Kong returned to China in 1997. The passport allows its carriers to visit Britain visa-free for six months, but they do not have the right of abode and cannot work in the country, nor do they have access to public funds, like government benefits. The British National Overseas (BNO) passport. Hong Kong residents renewed or applied for British National (Overseas) passports in record numbers last year as anti-government protests erupted in … The UK said it will expand the visa-free access of Hong Kong's BNO passport holders from six months to five years and give them the right to work and study in Britain during that period. Hong Kong Watch launched the BNO Community in March 2019, aiming to provide a platform for BNO advocacy groups and our subscribers to share ideas and proposals on the rights of BNO. "I think they just picked a number out in the air in order to annoy the Chinese government without thinking through the consequences of what they are doing," Chacko added. Taking back control of its borders was one of the UK's main focuses in Brexit. עדכוני חדשות, מבזקים ותעופה מישראל ובעולם, מלונאות, טיסות, דילים, מבצעי נופש לחו"ל כל מה שקורה וכל מה שמעניין רק ב Passport News. "If the British side makes unilateral changes to the relevant practice, it will breach its own position and pledges as well as international law and basic norms governing international relations," the spokesperson said. Searches for “BNO passport” rose similarly after the news from Beijing, suggesting any interest among many in renewing the limited edition travel document. We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. "I don't think that the government has actually thought through its policy in Hong Kong and what would it means if these three million people were coming into Britain," Ben Chacko, a British political commentator and editor of the Morning Star, told CGTN. News Break; bno passports. A protester holds a British National (Overseas) passport in a shopping mall during a protest against China's national security legislation for the city, in Hong Kong, on May 29, 2020. Around 300,000 people currently hold a BNO passport, allowing them to visit the UK visa-free for six months. "The UK is ready to welcome BNO citizens and their dependents to the UK," the British official said. "I think that this shows how hypocritical the government is, because actually there's a global refugee crisis, there are thousands of people who are drowning in the Mediterranean trying to reach to safety in Europe and the British government does not let these people in, and yet suddenly they are offering this ridiculous figure of three million people coming from Hong Kong," Chacko said. The announcement attracted Beijing's ire. This rose to more than 400,000 in August, with more than 200,000 passport applications waiting to be processed. The proposed changes include opening a new route for work or study for an extendable period of 12 months and offering BNO nationals a path to British citizenship. Data from the UK National Statistics office shows the number of people claiming unemployment benefits rose to 2.8 million in May, the highest since 1993. The BNO visa scheme allows holders and their dependents the right to remain in the UK, including the right to work and study for five years, and a path to full citizenship.Â, The huge increase in people wanting to emigrate is related to the political situation in Hong Kong, which has recently been placed under a draconian national security law that inhibits free speech and the right to protest. More than 300,000 of Hong Kong's 7 million residents hold BNO passports, according to the U.K., more than double the number four years earlier. The announcement came after the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) took effect on Tuesday. New BNO information just released on path to UK citizenship for people from Hong Kong. That is why a Liberal Democrat government will reopen the offer of a British National Overseas (BNO) passport to Hong Kong citizens. It is taking longer than usual to process applications because of coronavirus (COVID-19). And the country has been taking a tough stance on immigration. Critics say the strain on the country's job system would be too great. Now both Taiwan and the UK offers path to citizenship after China threatens to make BNO passports illegitimate. But according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's offer, BNO passport holders from Hong Kong would be able to apply to work in the UK before gaining citizenship. The BNO passport is essentially a travel document that does not carry citizenship rights with it - although you are entitled to some consular assistance outside of Hong Kong and China with it. A cyclist rides past closed shops due to the coronavirus lockdown in London, UK, May 5, 2020. The group Hongkongers in Britain (HKB) polled 315 people in a survey from September 2 to October 1 and found among the 93 per cent, 45 per cent plan to apply as soon as the scheme starts in January. The HKSAR government has denied the claim. London recently announced that Hong Kong residents holding British National Overseas (BNO) passports can come to Britain and seek citizenship after a five-year period, a plan which Beijing has expressed firm opposition to. The current legislation requires BNO passport holders to live in the UK for at least 10 years and not leave the UK for more than 540 days in order to be naturalised. The BNO visa scheme allows holders and their dependents the right to remain in the UK. Hong Kong: 'Eyes will be plucked out,' China warns West. By Paul Kerley BBC News … Follow the latest news and comprehensive coverage on BNO PASSPORT at CNA. A simple guide to how leaving the EU will affect travel to Europe. China accepted BNO passports as "travel documents" only, and it was agreed that BNO passports would state that the holder has the right of abode in … "If they (the British government) are so concerned about protecting people, there are lots of refugees that they could be taking in," he said. Japan and Singapore have world’s most powerful passports. The British National (Overseas) passport, commonly referred to as the BN(O) passport, is a British passport for persons with British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status. Beijing ICP prepared NO.16065310-3. UK foreign secretary extends immigration rights to Hong Kong BNO passport holders to 5 years. Both HKSAR and BNO passports grant holders six-month visa-free travel to the UK. Proposed changes to the BNO passport policy Currently, BNO passport holders are allowed to stay in the UK for up to 6 months as a visitor. Class of British nationality was created basically a travel document investment trend the! 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