A wave of emigration from Hong Kong has surged since the National Security Law was passed in June 2020.
As shown in the data from the UK Home Office on May 26, 19,500 BNO visa applications were received, a 25 percent increase from 15,600 in the 2021 fourth quarter.
This is a first big quarterly increase after the UK government launched its BNO visa program.
The number includes 18,563 out of country applications and 900 in country applications. Of the total, 11,500 applications relate to main applicants and 7,000 for dependents.
In this quarter, 16,942 were approved and 159 rejected, while others are still pending.
The BNO visa grants Hong Kongers the right to live, work, and study in the UK, and began receiving applications at the end of January 2021. It allows Hong Kongers to apply for settlement in the UK after 5 years of residency and apply for British citizenship 12 months after settlement….