UK eases BN(O) visa barriers for Hong Kong protesters convicted over 2019 unrest

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The UK government has eased a barrier to the British National (Overseas) visa scheme for Hong Kong residents convicted in connection with the 2019 protests. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said such convictions should generally not prevent otherwise eligible applicants from qualifying, following reports of rejected applications.

The UK government has confirmed that convictions linked to Hong Kong’s 2019 protests should generally not prevent otherwise eligible applicants from using the British National (Overseas) visa scheme, following reports that several convicted protesters had their applications rejected. In a letter on Wednesday to Alex Sobel, chairman of the UK Parliament’s Joint Committee on Human Rights, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said there would now be a “presumption in favour” of ensuring that...