Call for Parliamentary inquiry into potential systemic discrimination of BNOs

We believe that the British National (Overseas) visa is only a partial remedy as it fails to correct historic injustice that stripped Hong Kong British nationals of the right of abode.

Parliament must amend nationality law so BNO holders and their descendants are treated as full British citizens, not as second-class nationals.

We believe that legal changes from 1962–2002 have resulted in the majority of British nationals who remain without full citizenship being predominantly of Hong Kong origin. Parliament must investigate the backgrounds of those remaining without full citizenship to see if they are now predominantly of a single ethnicity. If so, this systemic exclusion may represent a profound injustice and risks another historic betrayal.

The BN(O) route reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to those people of Hong Kong who chose to retain their ties to the UK by taking up BN(O) status at the point of Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997.

Holders of BN(O) status can access consular assistance and protection provided by UK embassies, high commissions and consulates. We take the protection of Hong Kongers’ rights, freedoms, and safety in the UK very seriously and work closely across Government to ensure that the UK is a safe and welcoming place for those who choose to settle here.

The Government remains fully committed to the BN(O) route and to supporting BN(O) status holders to come to the UK through the BN(O) route. Since its launch, we have granted over 185,000 entry clearance visas and 172,00 people have arrived in the UK.

The BN(O) route enables individuals with BN(O) status, along with their eligible family members, to build a new life in the UK and progress towards British citizenship. The route allows them to apply to come to the UK to live, study, and work in almost any capacity, providing a clear pathway to citizenship.

We recently announced that the route will be expanded from 8 April 2026 to include BN(O) status holders’ adult children who were under-18 at the point of Hong Kong’s handover in 1997. This expansion will close a gap in eligibility that has led to unfair outcomes within families, with some children eligible for the route and others not. It demonstrates our continuing commitment to BN(O)s in light of the ongoing erosion of rights and freedoms in Hong Kong.