300,000 Hong Kongers are leaving… British start application for visa issuance

Hong Kong panoramic view. © AFP=News1

The British government has begun accepting visa applications for Hong Kongers holding British National Overseas (BNO) passports, Reuters reported on the 31st.

The BNO passport is a passport issued by the British government to Hong Kongers born before returning to Hong Kong in 1997.

When the Hong Kong National Security Act came into effect in June of last year, the British government revised the immigration law so that Hong Kongers with BNO passports can live and work in the UK for five years and obtain citizenship in the future.

The UK government predicts that about 300,000 Hong Kongers will apply for visas and move to the UK over the next five years, Reuters said.

China is strongly opposed to such measures by the British government. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zaorizen criticized at a regular briefing on the 29th, “This policy to expand immigration is to make Hong Kongers second-class citizens of the UK.”

“China will not accept BNO passports as valid travel documents and IDs from the 31st,” he said.

However, AFP reports that Hong Kongers use Hong Kong passports when leaving Hong Kong or entering mainland China, and there is no means to prevent Hong Kongers from using BNO passports when entering the UK. Reported that there will be no.

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