UK expands visa route for adult children of BNO holders

Thousands more Hong Kongers will be able to build new lives in Britain, as the UK government expands Hong Kong visa scheme.

Adult children of BN(O) holders who were under 18 at the time of Hong Kong's 1997 handover to China will now be eligible to apply independently of their parents.

Their partners and children will also be able to move to the UK under the expanded scheme.

The expansion aims to close a gap in eligibility that has led to some children being able to resettle and others not.

The announcement was made hours after Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years behind bars.

The British government expects 26,000 people will arrive in the UK over the next five years.

230,000 people have been granted a visa since 2021, with some 170,000 having moved to the UK.