Request to Deny British Overseas Citizen Passports in South Korea, USA, Japan, and Others
Diplomat: "Most Countries Likely to Ignore Hong Kong Government's Request"
Hong Kong passport (left) and British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport of the United Kingdom (right) [Image source=AP Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] It has been confirmed that the Hong Kong government requested 14 countries, including South Korea, the United States, and Japan, to refuse recognition of the special passports issued by the United Kingdom. Since the passage of the Hong Kong National Security Law last year, there has been a movement among Hong Kong citizens to migrate to the UK using the UK's special passports, and this is interpreted as a measure to block that.
According to major foreign media on the 25th (local time), the Hong Kong government acknowledged recent reports that it requested 14 countries not to recognize the validity of the British National Overseas (BNO) passports, a special passport issued by the UK exclusively for Hong Kong citizens. Hong Kong authorities asked these countries to recognize only Hong Kong passports, not BNO passports, when their citizens apply for working holiday visas.
According to foreign media, the Hong Kong government made such requests to 14 countries, including the UK, which issues BNO passports, as well as South Korea, Japan, the United States, Canada, Germany, and Australia.
This move by the Hong Kong government is interpreted as an attempt to prevent BNO passports from facilitating the migration of its citizens to the UK. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office criticized, "The Hong Kong government has no authority to interfere with the validity of foreign passports." He added, "We will continue to issue BNO passports."
An anonymous diplomat from a Western country predicted, "Most countries will reject the Hong Kong government's request." Another diplomat criticized, "Considering Hong Kong's status as a global financial hub city, this measure is highly inappropriate."
Earlier, the UK government amended immigration law in January to relax the conditions for Hong Kong residents to acquire citizenship. This is interpreted as an intention to open the door to Hong Kong citizens trying to escape due to the Hong Kong National Security Law. The amended immigration law allows all Hong Kong residents who currently hold or previously held BNO passports to apply for citizenship.
The UK government also established a separate immigration exception called 'Leave Outside the Rules' (LOTR) to allow Hong Kong residents to migrate to the UK before the BNO visa application process began. If the application is approved, a visa allowing residence and work for five years is issued first. Afterwards, settled status is granted, and citizenship application is possible one year later. According to local UK media, about 7,000 Hong Kong residents migrated to the UK using LOTR from July last year to January this year.
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