A new visa regime offering millions of Hong Kong residents a path to British citizenship goes live on Sunday as the UK opens its doors to those looking to escape China’s crackdown on dissent.
Starting Sunday afternoon, anyone with a British National Overseas (BNO) passport and their family members can apply for a visa online that allows them to live and work in the UK. After five years, they can then apply for citizenship.
The immigration regime is in response to Beijing’s decision last year to impose a sweeping national security law on Hong Kong to eradicate massive and often violent democracy protests.
Britain has accused China of tearing up its promise prior to the handover of Hong Kong in 1997 that the financial center would retain key freedoms and autonomy for 50 years. London argued that it has a moral obligation to protect its former colonial subjects.
“We have honored our deep historical ties and friendship with the people of Hong Kong, and we have stood up for freedom and autonomy,” Prime Minister Boris Johnson said of the plan this week.
China has responded with anger to the visa offer, announcing on Friday that BNO passports will no longer be recognized as legitimate travel or identity documents.
The move was largely symbolic, as Hong Kongers tend to use their own passport or ID card to get out of the city.
But Beijing said it was ready to take “further action” as authorities feared authorities would try to prevent Hong Kongers from leaving for Britain.
Cindy, who landed in London last week, is one of thousands of Hong Kongers who have fled their hometowns since Beijing imposed a draconian national security law on the territory last summer.
“Uprooting ourselves in this way is certainly not easy. But it got uglier last year, the government really chased us away, ”said the businesswoman and mother of two young children who didn’t give her last name because she feared repercussions for speaking out against the Chinese government. “Everything we value – freedom of speech, fair elections, freedoms – has been eroded. It is no longer the Hong Kong we knew, it is no longer a place to call home.
“The Chinese government said it has not ruled out tougher tactics,” she said. “I think they could lash out when tens of thousands of young professionals leave because that would definitely upset Hong Kong’s economy and they wouldn’t like that at all.”
It’s not clear how many Hong Kongers will take up the offer, especially as the coronavirus is restricting global flights and devastating much of the world, including Britain, in a painful economic slump.
A BNO passport is available to about 70% of Hong Kong’s 7.5 million residents and the number of applications has increased by more than 300% since the National Security Act was imposed last July, with 733,000 registered holders as of mid-January.
Britain predicts that up to 154,000 Hong Kongers could arrive in the next year and as many as 322,000 in five years.
Recently, the BNO passport has become one of the few ways out for Hong Kongers hoping to start a new life abroad, as authorities carry out mass arrests against democracy advocates and try to clear the restless city of dissent.
Stella, a former marketing professional, is planning to move to the UK soon with her husband and three-year-old son.
“The 2020 National Security Act gave us one last kick because the provisions in effect criminalize freedom of expression,” she said.
Under the visa regime, those wishing to relocate must show that they have enough money to support themselves and their family members for at least six months.
Hong Kongers already in Britain who help others relocate say that many of the early applicants are mostly well-educated middle-class people, often with young families, who have enough liquidity to fund their relocation.
“Most of the people we spoke to are families with children in elementary or kindergarten,” said Nic, an activist from a group called Lion Rock Hill UK, who asked for anonymity.
Earlier this week, Britain said about 7,000 people have moved in the past six months under a separate Leave Outside the Rules (LOTR) system. They can also apply for a visa for the pathway to citizenship.
“The BNO is definitely a lifeboat for Hong Kongers,” said Mike, a medical scientist who recently moved to the city of Manchester with his family.
Agence France-Presse and Associated Press contributed to this report.