(ANSA) - ROME, JANUARY 31 - A new visa program that offers millions of Hong Kong citizens a facilitated granting of British nationality to those who request it has formally entered into force today.
The international media report it.
Anyone with a British National (Overseas) (Bmo) passport - an identity document, even if not a citizen, reserved for millions of Hong Kong residents and which China no longer recognizes today - can now apply online for a visa that allows them to live and work in the UK.
And the same goes for their dependents.
After five years they will be able to apply for British citizenship.
London's immigration program is a response to Beijing's decision to impose national security law on the former colony with the intent of stifling Hong Kong's immense protests for democracy.
"We have honored our deep history ties and friendship with the people of Hong Kong, and have fought for freedom and autonomy," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said this week of the visa program.
(HANDLE).
/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/prisa/3I74UEXLYRBBRPGPSGWNN6WXH4.jpg)
