A new visa scheme that offers millions of Hong Kong residents a path to British citizenship will take effect on Sunday, when the UK opens its doors to those who wish to escape China’s crackdown on dissent.
As of Sunday afternoon, anyone with a British passport abroad (BNO) and their dependents will be able to apply online for a visa that allows them to live and work in the UK. After five years, they can apply for citizenship.
The immigration scheme is a response to Beijing’s decision last year to impose a broad national security law in Hong Kong to quell huge and often violent protests for democracy.
Britain accused China of breaking its promise prior to the transfer of control from Hong Kong in 1997 that the financial center would maintain essential freedoms and autonomy for 50 years. London argued that it has a moral duty to protect its former colonial subjects.
“We honor our deep ties of history and friendship with the people of Hong Kong and defend freedom and autonomy,” said Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the scheme this week.
China reacted angrily to the visa offer and announced on Friday that BNO passports would no longer be recognized as a legitimate travel or identity document.
The move was largely symbolic, as Hong Kong residents tend to use their own passports or identity cards to leave the city.
But Beijing said it was prepared to take “additional measures”, raising fears that the authorities might try to prevent Hong Kong residents from leaving for Britain.
Cindy, who landed in London last week, is one of thousands of Hong Kong residents fleeing their hometown since Beijing imposed a draconian national security law in the territory last summer.
“Uprooting us like this is definitely not easy. But things got uglier last year, the government was really pushing us away, ”said the businesswoman and mother of two young children who did not reveal her last name for fear of repercussions for speaking out against the Chinese government. “Everything we value – freedom of expression, fair elections, freedoms – has been eroded. It is no longer Hong Kong that we knew, it is no longer a place that we can call home.
“The Chinese government said it has not ruled out tougher tactics,” she said. “I think they could attack if tens of thousands of young professionals start to leave, because it would certainly affect Hong Kong’s economy and they would not like it at all.”
It is unclear how many Hong Kong residents will accept the offer, especially as the coronavirus restricts global flights and bogs much of the world, including Britain, in a painful economic malaise.
A BNO passport is available to about 70% of Hong Kong’s 7.5 million population and applications have skyrocketed by more than 300% since the national security law was imposed last July, with 733,000 cardholders registered in mid-January.
Britain predicts that up to 154,000 Hong Kong residents could arrive next year and up to 322,000 in five years.
Recently, the BNO passport has become one of the few outlets for Hong Kong residents hoping to start a new life abroad, while authorities hold mass arrests against supporters of democracy and move to purge the restless city of differing opinions.
Stella, a former marketer, plans to move to Britain soon with her husband and three-year-old son.
“The national security law in 2020 gave us one last kick because the provisions are basically criminalizing freedom of expression,” she said.
According to the visa scheme, those wishing to move must show that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their dependents for at least six months.
Hong Kong citizens who are already in Britain and involved in helping other people move say many of the first candidates tend to be educated middle class people, usually with young families, who have enough liquidity to finance their change.
“Most of the people we speak to are families with schoolchildren or daycare,” said Nic, an activist in a group called Lion Rock Hill UK, asking for anonymity.
Earlier this week, Britain said that about 7,000 people have moved in the past six months under a separate LOTR license system. They will also be able to request visas for citizenship.
“The BNO is definitely a lifeboat for the people of Hong Kong,” said Mike, a medical scientist who recently moved with his family to the city of Manchester.
Agence France-Presse and the Associated Press contributed to this report.