Around 300,000 Hong Kong residents who have a British National (Overseas) passport have been granted a new special visa route to move to the UK after Sunday.
The new visa, which will be available through a smartphone app, has raised issues for the Chinese government, which says it is a violation of their internal domestic affairs and a danger to China’s sovereignty. Due to this, the Chinese Foreign ministry has added that from the 31 January, the BNO (British National Overseas) passport will no longer be recognised as a travel document or even as proof of identity.
Patrick Poon, an independent researcher from Hong Kong who has both the BNO passport and the official Republic of China passport, said he did not understand the problem of having this new visa, as many people in Hong Kong have two passports for when they visit mainland China.
The UK has already granted 7,000 people from Hong Kong entry into the country since July after China imposed a new security law in Hong Kong, which makes it easier for the nation to punish protesters and reduce the region’s autonomy.
A government official from Hong Kong who would like to stay anonymous said: “I think this visa is a good idea for Hong Kong people, those who are well prepared can go to the UK. They can find a new life, they can enjoy liberty, democracy, freedom and for the UK government to incorporate more diversity into their country.”
Hong Kong residents who have applied and secured the visa can then apply for settlement and citizenship in the UK after five to six years in the country. However, some people in the UK have expressed concern about the new visa, saying it is poorly timed, considering we are still in a pandemic.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said that the new visa will create new “profound ties of history and friendship” between the UK and its former colony.