Instant International
Written by: Fang Yimei
2020-12-05 17:15
Last update date: 2020-12-05 17:19
US media reported on December 4 that the number of Hong Kong applicants began to increase after the British government upgraded the rights of British National Overseas Passport (BNO) holders and allowed them to reside in the UK for 5 years in July 2020.
According to the report, according to the British Passport Office (HMPO), when the department operates for an average of 8 hours per working day, they will issue more than 5 BNOs to Hong Kong people every minute in October 2020.
Break the record
Bloomberg reported on the 4th that in October 2020 alone, HMPO had issued 59,798 BNOs to Hong Kong people, including applications for renewal.
This figure is 52% higher than the same period in 2019, and it is also the highest single-month record since HMPO began to continuously collect data in 2015.
In the first 10 months of 2020, 216,398 Hong Kongers have been issued BNOs, the largest number since Hong Kong returned to China in 1997.
BNO: The picture shows a group photo of people in Mayfair, London, UK on the street on December 2.
(AP)
Of course, not all of the Hong Kong people who applied for the above plan to immigrate to the UK, but the above figures seem to show that some people in Hong Kong believe that the social and political environment has changed, or that they are based on their personal needs for seeking development abroad or changing their lifestyles. Apply for BNO for "hands-on" use, or to meet the most basic requirements of relevant British policies.
Bloomberg reported that real estate brokers in London saw a surge in enquiries from Hong Kong, and some brokers received an almost 80% increase in enquiries in 2020.
These people may already have a BNO before, or they may have recently applied for or renewed their passports.
The British government has a budget for this.
Bloomberg News quoted a study published by the British government on October 22, stating that it is estimated that 2.9 million Hong Kong residents are eligible for BNO, and as many as 2.3 million of their relatives are eligible to reside in the UK with them.
It estimates that between 2021 and 2025, as many as 322,000 Hong Kong people will migrate to the UK.
BNO: The picture shows a Hong Kong woman using a computer on the street on November 30.
(AP)
Chinese protest
A Bloomberg reporter asked the spokesperson Hua Chunying to respond at a regular press conference of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 4th that more than 200,000 Hong Kong residents were issued BNOs in the first 10 months of 2020.
Hua Chunying responded: "Britain’s breach of promises, arbitrariness, repeated hype and use of BN’s overseas passports are an interference in Hong Kong affairs and China’s internal affairs." She said that China will consider not recognizing BNO as a valid travel document. And reserves the right to take further measures.
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