Hong Kong treasury chief tells UK minister BN(O) passports invalid as proof of identity in bid to sort out pensions confusion

Treasury chief Christopher Hui seeks to clear up confusion over whether residents on UK citizenship pathway can withdraw pensions at meeting with visiting British minister

Hui and Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the UK minister for the Indo-Pacific, also discuss city’s national security laws and opportunities for cooperation in business and finance

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The UK introduced the British National (Overseas) citizen pathway scheme in 2020. Photo: Fung Chang

Published: 10:24am, 25 Apr 2024Updated: 4:00pm, 25 Apr 2024

Hong Kong’s treasury chief has told a visiting UK minister that British National (Overseas) passports are not recognised as proof of identity, seeking to clear up confusion over whether emigrating residents can withdraw their pensions early.

Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Christopher Hui Ching-yu also touted the recent domestic national security law as “conducive” to creating a prosperous business environment when he met Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the United Kingdom’s minister for the Indo-Pacific, on Wednesday.

The pair also “discussed opportunities for cooperation between Hong Kong and the UK in the areas of finance and businesses”, his bureau wrote in a social media post.

“Secretary Hui looks forward to deepening cooperation between Hong Kong and British enterprises and investors in these areas, opening up greater opportunities for both markets,” it added.

The treasury chief was the first local official to meet Trevelyan during a tour that began last Friday and covers locations such as Beijing, Tianjin and Hong Kong.

The Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau said Hui also took the opportunity to clarify misunderstandings over whether Hong Kong people who moved to the UK could retrieve their Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF).