93 per cent of Hong Kongers with BNO passports want to emigrate to the UK in three years, study finds

A Hong Kong protester holds up the British National (Overseas) passports

Credit: AP Photo/Vincent Yu

A survey has found that 93 per cent of British National Overseas (BNO) status holders in Hong Kong intend to emigrate to the UK within three years, as Britain begins a passport visa scheme next month.

The group Hongkongers in Britain (HKB) polled 315 people in a survey from September 2 to October 1 and found among the 93 per cent, 45 per cent plan to apply as soon as the scheme starts in January.

HKB has forecast the number of applicants is potentially higher and faster than the Home Office’s highest estimates in its Impact Assessment estimation in October.

“We estimate that the number of BNO visa applications within 2021 will double the number of the Home Office’s Impact Assessment highest estimation,” HKB stated in its report.

Boris Johnson announced a new BNO visa scheme in July to welcome more than three million eligible Hong Kongers to Britain, after declaring a new security law a “clear and serious breach” of the Sino-British declaration that guarantees the former British colony autonomy from Beijing.

The BNO visa scheme allows holders and their dependents the right to remain in the UK, including the right to work and study for five years, and a path to full citizenship. 

The huge increase in people wanting to emigrate is related to the political situation in Hong Kong, which has recently been placed under a draconian national security law that inhibits free speech and the right to protest. China imposed the National Security Law in July to curb civic unrest that began in June 2019. 

The majority of the survey’s respondents say they are emigrating for safety and freedom as they no longer see Hong Kong as safe or free after the passing of the National Security Law.

HKB also found a typical emigrant is 37 years old, employed, with an average salary of £33,270 per year, a university degree, English language skills, and either studied or works in the business or finance industry.

The organisation says the prospective BNO visa holders provide the UK “a fresh workforce that has good qualifications, work experience and is largely self-reliant.”