UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson hailed the new scheme under which people with British National (Overseas) status will be able to apply to live and work in the UK for up to five years and eventually seek citizenship.
The United Kingdom has pledged to stand by the people of Hong Kong against Chinese crackdown, as it prepares to launch new visa scheme that offers qualified Hong Kong citizens a route to British citizenship.
Before the change, which takes effect on Sunday, people with BN(O) status could only visit the UK for up to six months and were not allowed to work or settle. "I am immensely proud that we have brought in this new route for Hong Kong BN(O)s to live, work and make their home in our country. In doing so we have honoured our profound ties of history and friendship with the people of Hong Kong, and we have stood up for freedom and autonomy - values both the UK and Hong Kong hold dear," Johnson was quoted by the UK government statement, as saying.
The UK committed to this visa following the imposition of the National Security Law imposed by the Chinese government in June 2020. The United Kingdom Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said that China's imposition of the National Security Law in Hong Kong is a "clear and serious breach" of the SinoBritish Joint Declaration contrary to international law.
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