Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support Hong Kong citizens who are born after 1997 and do not qualify for BN(O) status.

We are introducing the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) Visa to give BN(O) citizens and their dependants an opportunity to settle in the United Kingdom, in recognition of their historic ties to the UK and China’s breech of its previous commitments through the introduction of new national security legislation.

Many people in Hong Kong chose to register for BN(O) status, electing to retain their ties with the UK and a British Identity. However, a child born on or after 1 July 1997 to BN(O) parents would not have had the opportunity to be registered for BN(O) status. We do not wish to split family units and therefore the children of a BN(O) citizen who fall into this category and who form part of the same household will be able to apply for this Visa alongside their BN(O) parent.

Individuals from Hong Kong not eligible for the specific route for British National (Overseas) will still be able to apply to come to the UK under the terms of the UK’s new Points Based System, which will enable individuals to come to the UK in a wider range of professions than in the past. In addition, Hong Kong nationals aged between 18 and 30 are eligible to apply to the existing Youth Mobility Scheme, with 1000 places currently available each year.