BNO visa "EMPOWER IAS"

In news:

• Hong Kong residents can apply for a new visa offering them an opportunity to become British citizens after Beijing’s imposition of a national security law last year.

 

What is the news?

• The move comes as China and Hong Kong have said they will no longer recognise the British National Overseas (BNO) passport as a valid travel document from Sunday, January 31.
• Britain and China have been arguing for months about what London and Washington say is an attempt to silence dissent in Hong Kong after pro-democracy protests in 2019 and 2020.

 

BNO Passport

• The British National (Overseas) passport, commonly referred to as the BN(O) passport, is a British passport for persons with British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status.
• The passport was first issued in 1987 after the Hong Kong Act 1985 from which this new class of British nationality was created.
• Holders of BN(O) passports are permanent residents of Hong Kong who were British Dependent Territories citizens until 30 June 1997 and had registered as BN(O)s.

 

What is the British move for citizenship?

• The scheme, which was first announced last year, allows those with BNO status to live, study and work in Britain for five years and eventually apply for citizenship.
• BNO is a special status created under British law in 1987that specifically relates to Hong Kong.
• Britain says it is fulfilling a historic and moral commitment to Hong Kong people after Beijing imposed the security law on the semi-autonomous city.
• Britain says breaches the terms of agreements under which the colony was handed back to China in 1997.
• The U.K. government forecasts the new visa could attract more than 300,000 people and their dependants to Britain.

 

Chinese stance on the move

• China says the West’s views on its actions over Hong Kong are clouded by misinformation and an imperial handover.
• Beijing also said that it would no longer be recognising BN(O) passports, saying that the citizenship offer “seriously infringed” on China’s sovereignty.
• It is unclear, however, how this could deter Hong Kongers from leaving since city residents are usually known to use Hong Kong passports while leaving for another country.