BritInParis

“If China continues down this path and implements this national security legislation we will change that status, and we will remove that six-month limit and allow those BN(O) passport holders to come to the UK and to apply to work and study for extendable periods of 12 months, and that would itself provide a pathway to future citizenship.”

BritInParis

Now confirmed: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53246899

”Under the government's plans, all British Overseas Nationals and their dependents will be given right to remain in the UK, including the right to work and study, for five years. At this point, they will be able to apply for settled status, and after a further year, seek citizenship.”

Pulaski

I saw that on the Beeb's web site this morning. .... Wow!

BritInParis

It is really excellent news. I’m particularly happy that they dropped the mooted 12 month renewable visas as it would’ve been unworkable. From the wording it sounds like it’ll instead be a similar scheme to what was put in place for EU migrants.

Pulaski

Do you know off-hand how many BOC's this decision applies to?

spouse of scouse

This is wonderful news. While nothing can replace what's been taken away from the people of Hong Kong, at least for some there'll now be a choice. Well done UK.

BritInParis

Around 3 million BN(O)s, plus their non-BN(O) dependants. The latter is particularly important because BN(O) status cannot be passed on by descent so any children born since 1997 to BN(O)s would need to be sponsored by their parents in order to accompany them to the UK. I would therefore estimate that at least half of Hong Kong's current population would be eligible to come to the UK.

SanDiegogirl

Boris has been talking about up to 3 million people being offered a place in the UK and subsequent citizenship.

That's an awful lot of people to house and to provide medical services. Back in January 2020 the UK Government said it required home builders to build up to 300,000 homes per year by 2025 to fulfill current needs. The builders are nowhere near that, even prior to a potential 3 million additional bodies arriving.

Many people are already expressing concern. While many of these new immigrants will be well educated and have employment skills, not all will.

BritInParis

I don’t think it is reasonable to expect all three million will be hopping on a plane come 1 January 2021 in the same way not all 450 million EU citizens have chosen to come to the UK.

In any case the numbers aren’t particularly relevant as far as I’m concerned. We have both a legal and moral obligation to Hongkongers which we had repeatedly failed to fulfil since 1997. I’m extremely glad HMG has finally seemed to locate their collective spine.

hong_konger

It will never happen.

To start with its not 3 million. There are only about 300,000 BNO passport holders and many of those also have other passports and already live overseas in Canada, USA, Australia and in UK.
Do you really think that the average Hong Kong family will want to move to UK ? Do you believe everything you read in the newspapers or spoken by Boris ? Do you think the new security law will affect anyone other than the rioters and other trouble makers who want independence from China.
The type of people that will want to go to UK will be fugitives like the guy arrested this week on a departing plane trying to flee to UK after he had knifed a policeman during the riots, or those with no job or prospects so that they can claim UK housing and benefits.

spouse of scouse

That sounds like a party political broadcast from China's government.

hong_konger

It’s interesting how the rest of the world perceives what is going on here, largely fuelled by stupid politicians (left and right) and the press.

Only if you live here and know the locals and hear what they say and feel about the protests will you really understand.

Pulaski

Ditto USA.

I have tried to help BE'ers understand what is going on in US politics and why mainstream media reports continue to drift (veer?) further and further away from what is actually happening on the ground across much of the USA, but most people have their own prejudices and won't listen even if you explain it to them, preferring to swallow the media line and stick to their own perceptions from afar.

BritInParis

There are around 300,000 valid BN(O) passports but an estimated 2.9 million BN(O)s. The rest just need to renew their passports. Some will already live overseas but with dependants you are still talking at least half of the population of HK. There's no expectation that all who are eligible to move to the UK. It will only be a small percentage overall but there is potential for a significant brain drain among the wealthy, young and politically active. HK's loss would the UK's gain. Ditto for Australia, the US and Canada. It would be nothing new; we saw the same thing happen in the 1980s and early 1990s. I can't speak for your social circle but every one of my HK friends - all young, well-educated professionals - are seriously considering leaving given the current situation.

carcajou

One of my line managers asked me last week, "what is really going on in the US right now?" I said I had no idea, because the media reports I see on TV and in the news, diverge so wholly and completely to what everyone I know on the ground in the US tells me, and what I recall from living there for 20+ years.