The British National Overseas (BNO) passport. Only the vaccine can save us now, Exclusive: Test and Trace chaos made me 'lose it' and seek psychiatrist help, Boris Johnson determined to let families meet at Christmas, but urges self isolation beforehand. BNO Community exclusive for Hong Kong watch subscribers. The organisation says the prospective BNO visa holders provide the UK âa fresh workforce that has good qualifications, work experience and is largely self-reliant.âÂ. Good Morning America. But according to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson's offer, BNO passport holders from Hong Kong would be able to apply to work in the UK before gaining citizenship. 9th August 2020 – (London) The British media reported on Friday (7th) that when two Hong Kong residents entered the UK with a British National (Overseas) passport (BNO) earlier, they were separately asked to apply for asylum by the Immigration Department officers, or they would be deported. China imposed the National Security Law in July to curb civic unrest that began in June 2019.Â. Data from the UK National Statistics office shows the number of people claiming unemployment benefits rose to 2.8 million in May, the highest since 1993. New BNO information just released on path to UK citizenship for people from Hong Kong. However, there would be no income test requirement in the path to citizenship or cap on numbers for BNO passport holders from Hong Kong. "If they (the British government) are so concerned about protecting people, there are lots of refugees that they could be taking in," he said. There were nearly 350,000 BNO passport holders in Hong Kong in February. More than 300,000 of Hong Kong's 7 million residents hold BNO passports, according to the U.K., more than double the number four years earlier. The HKSAR government has denied the claim. The announcement came after the Law of the People's Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) took effect on Tuesday. Critics say the strain on the country's job system would be too great. The BNO passport is basically a travel document that does not carry citizenship rights. 17 June 2020. UK foreign secretary extends immigration rights to Hong Kong BNO passport holders to 5 years. Japan and Singapore have world’s most powerful passports. The couple have British National (Overseas) - or BNO - passports, which were issued to Hong Kong residents that registered before the city was handed back to China on July 1997. It is taking longer than usual to process applications because of coronavirus (COVID-19). "I don't think that the government has actually thought through its policy in Hong Kong and what would it means if these three million people were coming into Britain," Ben Chacko, a British political commentator and editor of the Morning Star, told CGTN. Taking back control of its borders was one of the UK's main focuses in Brexit. Ways to gain points include reaching a certain income level and work experience. The passport was first issued in 1987 after the Hong Kong Act 1985, from which this new class of British nationality was created. On 28 May 2020, the UK government announced that it would offer a ‘pathway to citizenship’ to British National (Overseas) passport holders in Hong Kong if China goes ahead with its plans to implement a controversial new security law in the territory. The offer also contradicts the UK's immigration policies, he suggested. Proposed changes to the BNO passport policy Currently, BNO passport holders are allowed to stay in the UK for up to 6 months as a visitor. London recently announced that Hong Kong residents holding British National Overseas (BNO) passports can come to Britain and seek citizenship after a five-year period, a plan which Beijing has expressed firm opposition to. ... By clicking subscribe, I agree to receive news updates and promotional material … We rely on advertising to help fund our award-winning journalism. Hong Kong Watch launched the BNO Community in March 2019, aiming to provide a platform for BNO advocacy groups and our subscribers to share ideas and proposals on the rights of BNO. New pathway to citizenship for Hong Kong BNO passport holders . Of the almost three million people in the city born before handover and therefore eligible for BNO passports… And the country has been taking a tough stance on immigration. Beijing ICP prepared NO.16065310-3. China has strongly rebuked the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand and Canada after being accused of a concerted effort to silence critics in Hong Kong. Announcing preliminary details to the House of Commons on Wednesday, Raab said that BNO passport holders and their dependents in Hong Kong who … Hong Kong has over 300,000 BNO passport holders who already have the right to visit the UK for up to six months without a visa. The two were forced to apply for asylum […] The group Hongkongers in Britain (HKB) polled 315 people in a survey from September 2 to October 1 and found among the 93 per cent, 45 per cent plan to apply as soon as the scheme starts in January. The British National (Overseas) passport, commonly referred to as the BN(O) passport, is a British passport for persons with British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status. The announcement attracted Beijing's ire. News & Advice. As the BNO passport becomes a focus in the ongoing dispute, CGTN explains what it is, what the British proposal means and why the proposal is controversial. A spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Britain said Thursday that China firmly opposes Britain's offer to provide more privileges for Hong Kong residents holding BNO passports, and reserves the right to take corresponding measures. "If the British side makes unilateral changes to the relevant practice, it will breach its own position and pledges as well as international law and basic norms governing international relations," the spokesperson said. It was issued to people in Hong Kong by the United Kingdom before Hong Kong returned to China in 1997. China opposes UK's citizenship offer to Hong Kong residents. The BNO visa scheme allows holders and their dependents the right to remain in the UK, including the right to work and study for five years, and a path to full citizenship.Â, The huge increase in people wanting to emigrate is related to the political situation in Hong Kong, which has recently been placed under a draconian national security law that inhibits free speech and the right to protest. The embassy's spokesperson said that with regard to the BNO passport, in memoranda exchanged between the two sides, the British side declared it would not confer the right of abode to Chinese citizens in Hong Kong holding BNO passports. A protester holds a British National (Overseas) passport in a shopping mall during a protest against China's national security legislation for the city, in Hong Kong, on May 29, 2020. The BNO visa scheme allows holders and their dependents the right to remain in the UK. The current legislation requires BNO passport holders to live in the UK for at least 10 years and not leave the UK for more than 540 days in order to be naturalised. Hong Kong residents renewed or applied for British National (Overseas) passports in record numbers last year as anti-government protests erupted in … A survey has found that 93 per cent of British National Overseas (BNO) status holders in Hong Kong intend to emigrate to the UK within three years, as Britain begins a passport … Hong Kong: 'Eyes will be plucked out,' China warns West. /AP. Published 25 August 2015 Last updated 15 July 2020 — see all updates British National (Overseas) passports were issued to Hongkongers born before the 1997 handover, and under current rules, passport holders can … The spokesperson also urged the UK to view objectively and fairly the national security legislation for Hong Kong, respect China's position and concerns, and refrain from interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any form. Around 300,000 people currently hold a BNO passport, allowing them to visit the UK visa-free for six months. The UK said it will expand the visa-free access of Hong Kong's BNO passport holders from six months to five years and give them the right to work and study in Britain during that period. The BNO passport is essentially a travel document that does not carry citizenship rights with it - although you are entitled to some consular assistance outside of Hong Kong and China with it. Follow the latest news and comprehensive coverage on BNO PASSPORT at CNA. We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future. Hong Kong BNO passport news update. By Paul Kerley BBC News … Video. There are currently around 300,000 BNO passport holders in Hong Kong and a further 2.5 to 2.7 million people are eligible to apply for one. Read more: Backgrounder: What is the BNO passport? They will then be able to apply for settled status and seek official citizenship after a year. Searches for “BNO passport” rose similarly after the news from Beijing, suggesting any interest among many in renewing the limited edition travel document. There are currently around 300,000 BNO passport holders in Hong Kong and a further 2.5 to 2.7 million people are eligible to apply for one. "I think that this shows how hypocritical the government is, because actually there's a global refugee crisis, there are thousands of people who are drowning in the Mediterranean trying to reach to safety in Europe and the British government does not let these people in, and yet suddenly they are offering this ridiculous figure of three million people coming from Hong Kong," Chacko said. âWe estimate that the number of BNO visa applications within 2021 will double the number of the Home Officeâs Impact Assessment highest estimation,â HKB stated in its report. If you’re overseas and need to travel urgently, you may be able to get an emergency travel document. This rose to more than 400,000 in August, with more than 200,000 passport applications waiting to be processed. HKB has forecast the number of applicants is potentially higher and faster than the Home Officeâs highest estimates in its Impact Assessment estimation in October. "The UK is ready to welcome BNO citizens and their dependents to the UK," the British official said. עדכוני חדשות, מבזקים ותעופה מישראל ובעולם, מלונאות, טיסות, דילים, מבצעי נופש לחו"ל כל מה שקורה וכל מה שמעניין רק ב Passport News. The changes could potentially affect up to 3 million people in Hong Kong. Meanwhile, some media reports on Friday said the HKSAR government was planning to force its employees to give up their BNO passports. Now both Taiwan and the UK offers path to citizenship after China threatens to make BNO passports illegitimate. Both HKSAR and BNO passports grant holders six-month visa-free travel to the UK. A Hong Kong protester holds up the British National (Overseas) passports, MI6 failed to tell Foreign Secretary about rogue agent involved in 'serious criminality', Dominic Cummings received pay rise of 40 per cent last year, sparking angry backlash, Black applicants significantly more likely to fail RAF selection tests than white counterparts, Stop wasting billions on testing. A cyclist rides past closed shops due to the coronavirus lockdown in London, UK, May 5, 2020. "I think they just picked a number out in the air in order to annoy the Chinese government without thinking through the consequences of what they are doing," Chacko added. China's central government voiced its "firm opposition," threatening to withdraw its recognition of BNO Visa already held by some Hong Kong residents. 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