New Savanta Comres polling shows emphatic British public backing for BNO right of abode
New Savanta ComRes polling data commissioned by advocacy groups Hong Kong Watch and Friends of Hong Kong shows public backing for right of abode for British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport holders in Hong Kong.
The polling found that UK voters are more than twice as likely to support granting right of abode to BNO Passport holders as they are to oppose it. This follows news that the Home Secretary is seeking to change the status of BNO passports but is facing resistance from the Foreign Secretary.
The online survey of 2041 people demographically representative of the UK population showed that only one in five people opposed the idea of giving right of abode to all BNO passport holders, while nearly half the country supported the idea.
In a separate question, 2 in 5 members of the UK public said that the UK should make it easier for BNOs to move to the country to live and work than it currently does for its EU citizens. Almost three times more UK voters supported the statement than were opposed to it.
The survey data also found majority support for the UK government making it easier for Hong Kong students to remain living in the UK after their studies, and that nearly two-thirds of the British population are concerned by the role China plays in erosion of rights and freedoms of people in Hong Kong.
HEADLINES
The data, drawing on an online survey of 2041 people demographically representative of the UK, shows that:
UK adults are more than twice as likely to support granting right of abode to British National (Overseas) Passport holders as they are to oppose it.
UK adults are almost three times as likely to back BNOs having easier access to live and work in the UK than EU citizens than they were to oppose the proposal.
More than half of the British public thought that it should be easier for students from Hong Kong to remain in the UK after their studies. Only 15% opposed the idea.
Around half of UK voters support “offering political asylum to those from Hong Kong who request it”. Less than 1 in 5 voters opposed the idea.
Nearly two-thirds of UK voters said they are “concerned about China eroding the human rights and freedoms of Hong Kong people”.
British National (Overseas) Passport holders
The poll shows significant support for the extension of right of abode to British Nationals (Overseas) passport holders. The number of people who agreed that the British government should extend right of abode to British National Overseas (BNO) passport holders was more than double the number of those who oppose.
UK voters were asked their view on whether it the government should extend the right to live in the UK to any British National (Overseas) passport holder from Hong Kong.
Half of Brits aged 55+ (49%) support extending the right to live in the UK to any BNO passport holder from Hong Kong, in comparison to just two in five Brits aged 18-34 (42%).
In a finding with relevance to post-Brexit Britain, the data shows that three times the number of Britons support making it easier for BNO passport holders “to move to the UK to live and work than it is for EU citizens.” Leave and Remain voters were evenly split. 44% of Leave voters and 44% of Remain voters supported the statement, showing that even those who oppose freedom of movement are supportive of extending the rights of BNO passport holders.
Public concern about the erosion of human rights
The majority of the UK public expressed concerns about the erosions of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong. 63% said that they were concerned, 8% said that they disagreed with the statement, 15% said they did not have an answer, and 14 per cent were neutral.
Students visas and political asylum
More than half of the British public (51%) thought that it should be easier for students from Hong Kong to remain in the UK after their studies. Only 15% opposed the idea, while 19 percent were neutral and 14% stated they did not have a view.
Nearly half of the British public (48%) supported “offering political asylum to those from Hong Kong who request it”. Only 17% opposed the idea. while 18 per cent were neutral and 17% stated they did not have a view.