Britain’s plan to extend citizenship to young Hongkongers short on detail
- Home Secretary floats proposal to include city residents born after 1997 handover to China in BN(O) passport offer
- 3 million people in Hong Kong already eligible for residency offer made in wake of national security law
She told the Commons home affairs select committee on Wednesday she was looking actively at the 18 to 23 age group in Hong Kong – those who were born after the handover in 1997. She said the issue was complex but added: “I am giving that commitment to that cohort.”
That age group is too young to qualify for British National (Overseas) status, which was granted to those born before Hong Kong’s handover from Britain to China. The British government has already agreed to allow all 3 million eligible BN(O) holders and their dependents to relocate to Britain and stay for five years before starting the process towards full citizenship.
Bob Seely, a Conservative Party member who is vocal on China issues, urged the government to provide young Hongkongers with more security.
“We parliamentarians are pushing the government to be as expansive as possible, recognising that many young activists are not BN(O)s,” Seely said.
Johnny Patterson, director of the London-based Hong Kong Watch group, said: “Given this group are some of the most vulnerable to prosecution under politicised security law charges, it is vital that the Home Secretary offers an insurance policy to young Hongkongers, and calls other governments to do the same.”
