Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department plans to issue guidance to (a) HSBC and (b) other UK-based pension providers on acceptance of a British National Overseas passport as a valid document for accessing the pension assets of Hong Kongers who have moved to the UK.

We are aware of the difficulties British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status holders are experiencing in seeking early withdrawal of their pension held by the Mandatory Provident Fund in Hong Kong. The root of the problem is the Chinese Government's decision not to recognise the BN(O) passport as a valid identity document in Hong Kong. The UK firmly opposes the discrimination of BN(O)s in this way. We have urged the Hong Kong authorities to facilitate the early drawdown of funds as is the case for other Hong Kong residents who move overseas permanently.