As China moves ahead with new restrictions on the city, the UK government has reached out to residents of its former colony
With the passage of the new national security law in Hong Kong today, British prime minister Boris Johnson has vowed to uphold the offer to bestow the right to settle in the UK he made to nearly 3 million residents of the former British colony. The changes to the law would give eligible persons an opportunity to eventually apply for British citizenship.
As at February 2020, the government estimated there are around 2.9 million British National (Overseas) passport holders (“BN(O)s”) living in Hong Kong. It is anticipated that only a proportion of those that are offered the new status will take advantage of it.
While details of the scheme are yet to be confirmed, Downing Street has said those with BN(O) status will be eligible to travel to the UK immediately will not face salary thresholds.
