Hong Kong News
Nonpartisan, Noncommercial, unconstrained.
Saturday, Dec 21, 2024
Real, Diverse, Unbiased.
BNO emigration scheme for Hongkongers to stay at least until 2025 UK elections, says British diplomat
A British diplomat told an interview that an emigration scheme for holders of British National (Overseas) passports in Hong Kong to move to the UK will stay in effect at least until 2025 - the year when Britain held its next general election. However, there is no confirmation whether the scheme will continue beyond 2025.
The immigration policy launched by the UK on January 31, 2021, allows BNO passport holders and their dependents to live and work in the UK for up to five years, thus providing them a pathway towards permanent residency and citizenship.
The scheme was expanded last November to cover adults born after July 1, 1997 – when the UK handed over its former colony to China – and with at least one parent who is a BNO passport holder. They can apply to settle in the UK on their own.
British Consul General Brian Davidson told a South China Morning Post interview that Britain is committed to keeping its migration pathway open to Hongkongers.
“There is no discussion now of changing that commitment. There is an absolute commitment by the government at the moment to keep the pathway open,” he said.
However, when asked whether the scheme would be extended beyond 2025, when it is due to be reviewed according to the British Home Office, Davidson said attempting an answer would be “crystal-ball gazing”.
Davidson also hit back at critics that said the scheme has been a cause of the brain drain from the city in recent years, saying it is up to the SAR government to attract its people back.
The scheme was expanded last November to cover adults born after July 1, 1997 – when the UK handed over its former colony to China – and with at least one parent who is a BNO passport holder. They can apply to settle in the UK on their own.
British Consul General Brian Davidson told a South China Morning Post interview that Britain is committed to keeping its migration pathway open to Hongkongers.
“There is no discussion now of changing that commitment. There is an absolute commitment by the government at the moment to keep the pathway open,” he said.
However, when asked whether the scheme would be extended beyond 2025, when it is due to be reviewed according to the British Home Office, Davidson said attempting an answer would be “crystal-ball gazing”.
Davidson also hit back at critics that said the scheme has been a cause of the brain drain from the city in recent years, saying it is up to the SAR government to attract its people back.
