The British Consulate also received a letter from the Hong Kong government urging the rejection of BNO’s application for a working holiday visa to the United States: the policy remains unchanged

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Written by: Lin Yingxian, Zheng Qiuling

2021-03-25 18:11

Last update date: 2021-03-25 18:17

Reuters today (25th) quoted a number of diplomats as saying that the Hong Kong government wrote to a number of foreign consulates in Hong Kong asking them to stop accepting BNO passports for working holiday visas.

The British Consulate General in Hong Kong confirmed receipt of the relevant letter.

When the US Consulate in Hong Kong responded to the "Hong Kong 01" inquiry, it stated that the US recognized the BNO's policy and emphasized that BNO is still valid for the issuance of documents and entry into the United States.

According to information, Hong Kong currently has bilateral agreements with 14 countries on working holiday schemes, with a total of 11,750 places per year.

The Reuters report quoted information saying that the Hong Kong government wrote about 12 foreign consulates, stating that Hong Kong no longer recognizes BNO as a travel document since January 31 this year, and requests to stop accepting BNO passports as documents for applying for working holiday visas. .

The report quoted responses from many countries, including Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand, indicating that they still recognize BNO. The report quoted news that it is believed that most countries ignored the Hong Kong government’s request, and some diplomats even described their actions as bordering on belligerent (bordering on belligerent). .

US Consulate in Hong Kong: Continue to recognize BNO

The British Consulate General in Hong Kong confirmed receipt of the letter.

The U.S. Consulate in Hong Kong also stated in the inquiry of "Hong Kong 01" that Beijing and the government’s decision to no longer recognize BNO does not prevent the U.S. from recognizing BNO’s policy guidelines, and emphasized that BNO is still valid for the issuance of documents and entry into the United States.

Currently reached bilateral agreements with 14 countries

According to information, Hong Kong currently has bilateral agreements with 14 countries, including Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Sweden, and the United Kingdom, with a total of 11,750 places per year.

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BNO British National (Overseas) Passport United Kingdom