UK Government commits to expanding BNO scheme for those born after 1997
Today, the UK Government has announced its intention to expand the BNO Visa Scheme in October 2022 for those Hong Kongers born on or after 1997 who have one BNO parent. This will allow young Hong Kongers to directly register for the scheme.
This is in line with the provisions in Damian Green MP’s amendment to the Nationality and Borders Bill, which was re-introduced by Hong Kong Watch patrons Lord Alton and Lord Patten, as well as Lord Falconer and the Bishop of St Albans in the House of Lords.
In a written ministerial statement, the Immigration Minister, Kevin Foster MP, outlines measures to address the current gap in the BNO Visa Scheme, said:
“It is right and important to address this so the Government has made the decision to enable individuals aged 18 or over who were born on or after 1 July 1997 and who have at least one BN(O) parent to apply to the route independently of their BN(O) parent.”
The statement announced that the Government will be introducing these changes in October. The full written statement can be found here: Written statements - Written questions, answers and statements - UK Parliament
Hong Kong Watch’s Chief Executive Officer, Benedict Rogers, said:
“We are delighted that the Government has taken the bold and moral step to expand the BNO Visa for those brave young Hong Kongers who are not currently covered by the scheme.
Hong Kong Watch has made this call for nearly two years and are pleased that Ministers have now taken this important step to plug the gap in the policy.
We greatly appreciated the parliamentary and civil society alliance that has stood with the people of Hong Kong to ensure the Government lived up to its historic, legal, and moral obligations to help those most in need of a lifeline out of the city.”
英國政府宣布將擴大BNO簽證計劃
容許1997年後出生的合資格港人直接申請簽證
英國政府今天宣布將在2022年10月擴大BNO簽證計劃，容許1997年後出生、父母其中一方擁有BNO身份的年輕香港人直接申請BNO簽證。
最新安排符合Damian Green MP議員在《國籍及邊界法》修訂法案中提出的條款。香港監察贊助人奧爾頓勳爵、香港最後一位港督彭定康、Falconer 勳爵和聖奧爾本主教早前曾在英國上議院再次提出該修訂法案。
在一份部長書面聲明中，移民部長Kevin Foster MP指出現時BNO簽證計劃的漏洞︰
「填補計劃的漏洞是正確和重要的。因此，英國政府決定容許18歲以上、在1997年7月1 日後出生、而且父母其中一方擁有BNO身份的香港人獨立地申請BNO簽證。」
聲明指新措施將在今年10月正式生效。按此閱讀聲明原文。
香港監察行政總裁羅傑斯表示︰
「我們樂見英國政府踏出勇敢和道德的一步，擴大BNO簽證計劃，容許現時不被計劃涵蓋的年輕港人申請簽證。
香港監察在過去兩年一直倡議擴大BNO簽證計劃，我們樂見政府踏出重要的一步，填補現時政策的漏洞。
我們非常感謝由國會議員和公民社會組成的聯盟與香港人站在一起，確保英國政府履行其歷史、法律和道德義務，為有需要的香港人提供救生艇。」