Thousands more Hong Kongers will be able to build new lives in
Britain as the government strengthens safe and legal routes to
the UK.
Adult children of British National (Overseas) status holders who
were under 18 at the time of Hong Kong's 1997 handover to China
will now be eligible to apply for the route independently of
their parents.
Their partners and children will also be able to move to the UK
under the expanded route. It is estimated 26,000 people will
arrive in the UK over the next 5 years.
The expansion honours the UK's historic commitment to the people
of Hong Kong and comes amid continuing deterioration of rights
and freedoms in the territory.
Today's sentencing of Jimmy Lai, a British citizen, for 20 years,
shows how the Beijing-imposed National Security Law has
criminalised dissent, prompting many to leave the territory. The
Prime Minister raised Mr Lai's case directly with President Xi
during his visit, opening up discussion of the UK's most acute
concerns directly with the Chinese government, at the highest
levels. Now that the sentencing has happened, the government will
rapidly engage further on Mr Lai's case.
In November, the Home Secretary further affirmed her commitment
to Hong Kongers by confirming they will retain a 5-year pathway to
permanent UK settlement – compared to a new standard baseline
of 10 years' residence for most other migrants.
As part of the most sweeping reforms to the asylum system in a
generation, the government has announced plans to create new
humanitarian routes for those genuinely fleeing war and
persecution. The capped routes will offer safe and legal
alternatives to dangerous small boat crossings to people around
the world and be established once order has been restored to
Britain's borders.
Home Secretary said:
This country will always honour its historic commitment to the
people of Hong Kong.
We are proud to have already provided a safe haven to almost
170,000 Hong Kongers since 2021. In the face of the continued
deterioration of rights and freedoms, we are now expanding
eligibility so more families can build new lives here.
While we must restore order and control to our borders, the
British people will always welcome those in genuine need of
sanctuary.
Foreign Secretary said:
Though Hong Kong's rights and freedoms continue to erode, this
government's support for its people remains steadfast, and that's
why we are ensuring that young people who missed out on
resettlement protection because of their age will now be covered.
Since the BN(O) route was launched, over 230,000 people have been
granted a visa and almost 170,000 have moved to the UK.
The route's expansion closes a gap in eligibility that has led to
unfair outcomes within families, with some children able to
resettle and others not.
In September, the government extended the Ukraine Permission
Extension Scheme by another year. The UK has offered a safe place
to live for 310,000 Ukrainians and their families while the war
with Russia continues.
Since 2021, the UK has also welcomed over 37,000 Afghans and
their families, including over 12,000 who supported British
troops during operations in the country.
