Recommendations & Conclusions
22 items
1
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Acknowledged
In the 1985 Sino-British joint declaration the UK made a historic commitment to protect the freedom of the people of Hong Kong. Given the grave concerns of Governments, NGOs and human rights experts about the impact of the new security law on Hong Kongers’ freedoms we welcome the Government’s decision …
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In the 1985 Sino-British joint declaration the UK made a historic commitment to protect the freedom of the people of Hong Kong. Given the grave concerns of Governments, NGOs and human rights experts about the impact of the new security law on Hong Kongers’ freedoms we welcome the Government’s decision to honour this promise through the creation of the British National (Overseas) visa route. This is a substantial and important recognition both of the gravity of the situation in Hong Kong and the commitments made by the UK Government to the people of Hong Kong. (Paragraph 39) People who are at risk of missing out
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledged understanding the committee's concerns regarding the eligibility and accessibility of the BN(O) route for younger individuals or those whose parents do not wish to apply, but committed to no specific action.
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Home Office
2
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Acknowledged
We have heard that young people are among the most targeted citizens in Hong Kong owing to their increased participation in pro-democracy protests. They are also among the most vulnerable, particularly if they are estranged from their families because of their political opinions and/or have limited financial means which restrict …
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We have heard that young people are among the most targeted citizens in Hong Kong owing to their increased participation in pro-democracy protests. They are also among the most vulnerable, particularly if they are estranged from their families because of their political opinions and/or have limited financial means which restrict their freedom to seek refuge. However, many of those involved in protests were born after the handover in July 1997 and are therefore not entitled to BN(O) status. We are concerned that this gap in the scheme will leave vulnerable young Hong Kongers at risk and unable to leave. The Government should therefore extend the BN(O) scheme to enable a young person with a BN(O) parent to apply separately from that parent, provided there is evidence of that parent’s status.
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Government response AI summary
The government states it understands the Committee's concerns regarding eligibility and accessibility for the BN(O) route for young people who were too young to obtain status or whose parents do not wish to apply.
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Home Office
3
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Rejected
We also agree with witnesses that the current provisions of the Youth Mobility Scheme—places on which are allotted through a lottery—are inadequate to support the size and needs of this cohort. The Government must provide assurances about the continuing feasibility and effectiveness of the bilateral agreement with the Hong Kong …
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We also agree with witnesses that the current provisions of the Youth Mobility Scheme—places on which are allotted through a lottery—are inadequate to support the size and needs of this cohort. The Government must provide assurances about the continuing feasibility and effectiveness of the bilateral agreement with the Hong Kong government which underpins the Youth Mobility Scheme and should take steps to remove or raise the cap on places on the scheme given the current circumstances.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects increasing the quota for Hong Kong nationals on the Youth Mobility Scheme, citing that each agreement is subject to a reciprocal quota based on UK nationals' usage.
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Home Office
4
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Rejected
In order to provide consistency with other pathways to the UK we ask the Government as a matter of urgency to consider, and to report to Parliament, how a five-year pathway to settlement might be made available to this group.
Government response AI summary
The government rejected the recommendation to make a five-year pathway to settlement available through the Youth Mobility Scheme, stating that YMS is a temporary cultural exchange route that does not lead to settlement.
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Home Office
5
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Deferred
Given the threats of imprisonment under the new security law faced by some Hong Kong young people, the asylum system should be another appropriate route for them to be able to follow. It is troubling that we have heard they are deterred from doing so. The current delays in the …
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Given the threats of imprisonment under the new security law faced by some Hong Kong young people, the asylum system should be another appropriate route for them to be able to follow. It is troubling that we have heard they are deterred from doing so. The current delays in the asylum system which leave young people—not just from Hong Kong—unable to study or work potentially for years before their cases are resolved are a serious problem. The Home Office must urgently address the long delays in the asylum casework system that are preventing it from operating as an effective route to safety and security for those in need of sanctuary.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response describes the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) as a temporary route for cultural exchange that does not lead to settlement, failing to address the recommendation to urgently tackle long delays in the asylum casework system.
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Home Office
6
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Deferred
We welcome the statement of intent by the Home Office that discretion will be given in cases where applicants for the BN(O) visa have convictions related to free speech The UK’s offer of visa and settlement routes for residents of Hong Kong 35 or peaceful protest. We are however concerned …
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We welcome the statement of intent by the Home Office that discretion will be given in cases where applicants for the BN(O) visa have convictions related to free speech The UK’s offer of visa and settlement routes for residents of Hong Kong 35 or peaceful protest. We are however concerned that correspondence we received from the Minister failed to provide assurances about the need to investigate the possibility of politically-motivated convictions.
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Government response AI summary
The government discusses the Youth Mobility Scheme (YMS) and its temporary nature, which is unrelated to the committee's concern about politically-motivated convictions for BN(O) visa applicants.
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Home Office
7
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Deferred
Home Office caseworkers should be trained and regularly updated on the developing situation in Hong Kong. The Government must provide assurances that the criminality policy and associated guidance for caseworkers explicitly recognise that convictions and the designation of certain convictions in Hong Kong, including for offences which are also recognised …
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Home Office caseworkers should be trained and regularly updated on the developing situation in Hong Kong. The Government must provide assurances that the criminality policy and associated guidance for caseworkers explicitly recognise that convictions and the designation of certain convictions in Hong Kong, including for offences which are also recognised as offences under UK law, may have been politically motivated and should be subject to investigation. We encourage the Government to establish an expert casework team to process Hong Kong BN(O) applications.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response deflected by stating that the UK grants protection according to international obligations and that asylum claims made within the UK are determined on a case-by-case basis, without addressing specific recommendations on BN(O) caseworker training, policy for politically motivated convictions, or establishing an …
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Home Office
8
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Deferred
We support the proposition that intelligence-led checks should be made of applications for the Hong Kong BN(O) visa to identify and screen out agents who intend to monitor and inform on the BN(O) community in the UK on behalf of the Chinese Government. This strengthens the case for having an …
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We support the proposition that intelligence-led checks should be made of applications for the Hong Kong BN(O) visa to identify and screen out agents who intend to monitor and inform on the BN(O) community in the UK on behalf of the Chinese Government. This strengthens the case for having an expert casework team that understands the full complexity of issues affecting Hong Kong.
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Government response AI summary
The government discusses general asylum claims and the UK's history of granting protection, which is unrelated to the recommendation for intelligence-led checks and an expert casework team for BN(O) visa applications.
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Home Office
9
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Rejected
Young people who were eligible but too young to register themselves before handover on 1 July 1997 are being denied access to the Hong Kong BN(O) visa route because, for whatever reason, their parents failed to complete the process. The Government should assess how many young people are likely to …
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Young people who were eligible but too young to register themselves before handover on 1 July 1997 are being denied access to the Hong Kong BN(O) visa route because, for whatever reason, their parents failed to complete the process. The Government should assess how many young people are likely to have been affected and provide for an extension to the visa route for eligible young people to apply.
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Government response AI summary
The government rejects assessing affected young people or extending the BN(O) visa route further, stating they have no plans to expand eligibility beyond adult children already in a BN(O) status holder's household, and point to alternative existing immigration routes.
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Home Office
10
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Accepted
We were concerned to hear that provisions in the Hong Kong BN(O) visa route rules may penalise couples on lower incomes and same-sex couples who because of societal pressures in Hong Kong are unable to live in the same household. The Home Office should review its equality impact assessment to …
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We were concerned to hear that provisions in the Hong Kong BN(O) visa route rules may penalise couples on lower incomes and same-sex couples who because of societal pressures in Hong Kong are unable to live in the same household. The Home Office should review its equality impact assessment to ensure that this issue and others which may arise from societal expectations and circumstances in Hong Kong have been appropriately considered. (Paragraph 77) Barriers to application
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Government response AI summary
The government accepted the recommendation, committing to review the equalities impact assessment for the BN(O) route and consider their approach to applications from genuine couples unable to show proof of joint residency due to societal or financial pressures.
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Home Office
11
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Deferred
We accept the principle that individuals who benefit from immigration should contribute towards the costs of essential UK services and we also welcome the fact that, when designing this visa route, the Government set out to increase its accessibility by setting a low fee for the applicant. However we are …
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We accept the principle that individuals who benefit from immigration should contribute towards the costs of essential UK services and we also welcome the fact that, when designing this visa route, the Government set out to increase its accessibility by setting a low fee for the applicant. However we are concerned that the upfront nature and scale of the immigration health surcharge will not be affordable for some BN(O) visa holders and particularly for young people. The Home Secretary has described the route as a proportionate response to a specific situation: we therefore recommend that, as a proportionate further step, the Government introduce either a means-tested fee waiver for Hong Kongers to whom the cost is a significant barrier to protection or flexibilities around delayed or reduced payment where appropriate.
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Government response AI summary
The government did not address the recommendation for a means-tested fee waiver or payment flexibilities for the immigration health surcharge, instead stating caseworkers receive training and will get regular updates on the situation in Hong Kong.
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Home Office
12
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Deferred
We recommend that, on grounds of the unique historical relationship between the UK and Hong Kong, the Government should consider providing for Hong Kong students to be charged domestic fees for higher education in the UK. (Paragraph 90) 36 The UK’s offer of visa and settlement routes for residents of …
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We recommend that, on grounds of the unique historical relationship between the UK and Hong Kong, the Government should consider providing for Hong Kong students to be charged domestic fees for higher education in the UK. (Paragraph 90) 36 The UK’s offer of visa and settlement routes for residents of Hong Kong
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Government response AI summary
The government responds by discussing the BN(O) casework team and their training, which is unrelated to the recommendation for Hong Kong students to be charged domestic higher education fees.
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Home Office
13
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Deferred
Witnesses told us that the Home Office’s failure to keep its country policy information notes on Hong Kong up to date potentially left asylum-seekers who have a well- founded fear of persecution at risk of having their claims denied by caseworkers. This concern was sufficient to deter eligible claims.
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Witnesses told us that the Home Office’s failure to keep its country policy information notes on Hong Kong up to date potentially left asylum-seekers who have a well- founded fear of persecution at risk of having their claims denied by caseworkers. This concern was sufficient to deter eligible claims.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response did not address the recommendation about updating country policy information notes on Hong Kong, instead discussing the purpose of visa fees.
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Home Office
14
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Deferred
The UK has a proud record of providing asylum to individuals who need it, from many parts of the world. A failure to provide effective and timely consideration to asylum seekers from Hong Kong would damage this record, as well as undermining the unique commitment made by the UK to …
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The UK has a proud record of providing asylum to individuals who need it, from many parts of the world. A failure to provide effective and timely consideration to asylum seekers from Hong Kong would damage this record, as well as undermining the unique commitment made by the UK to the citizens of Hong Kong. We have already in this report recommended that the Government establish a dedicated casework team to examine Hong Kong BN(O) visa applications; the Government should similarly establish a dedicated casework team to examine asylum applications from Hong Kong. In addition, the Government should report back to us with an updated country policy note for Hong Kong within eight weeks. The Home Office must also provide assurances concerning the frequency with which its country policy information notes are reviewed and in particular must confirm what measures are in place both to ensure that CPINs relating to Hong Kong are updated in response to developments, and to ensure that such changes are communicated quickly and effectively to frontline caseworkers.
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Government response AI summary
The government discusses the setting of visa, immigration, and citizenship fees, which is unrelated to the recommendation for a dedicated asylum casework team for Hong Kong and updated country policy notes.
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Home Office
15
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Deferred
The Government must provide further assurances of the practical steps it is taking to welcome BN(O) citizens and to ensure they are aware of the scheme. The Government should review its communication plan to ensure that the new visa route is being publicised through all appropriate channels and, where changes …
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The Government must provide further assurances of the practical steps it is taking to welcome BN(O) citizens and to ensure they are aware of the scheme. The Government should review its communication plan to ensure that the new visa route is being publicised through all appropriate channels and, where changes are made to enhance and extend the scheme, must ensure that these changes are communicated quickly and effectively. (Paragraph 100) Settlement in the UK
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Government response AI summary
The government discusses the setting of visa, immigration, and citizenship fees, which is unrelated to the recommendation for assurances on welcoming BN(O) citizens and reviewing communication plans for the scheme.
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Home Office
16
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Deferred
Integration support for newly arriving Hong Kongers is essential. The Government must ensure there is a robust plan for integration and employment support for BN(O) visa holders arriving to live in the UK. In January we heard significant concerns from witnesses about a lack of awareness and understanding by local …
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Integration support for newly arriving Hong Kongers is essential. The Government must ensure there is a robust plan for integration and employment support for BN(O) visa holders arriving to live in the UK. In January we heard significant concerns from witnesses about a lack of awareness and understanding by local authorities of the existence and role of the Hong Kong BN(O) visa route, and its potential consequences in terms of settlement patterns. Following this evidence, we welcome the Government’s recent efforts to set out further action on local support and integration.
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Government response AI summary
The government discusses the setting of visa, immigration, and citizenship fees, which is unrelated to the recommendation for a robust plan for integration and employment support for BN(O) visa holders.
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Home Office
17
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Accepted
The Government should also improve the communication and signposting of the support available, for example by making information about the integration programme available in a range of languages and accessible formats.
Government response AI summary
The government accepted the recommendation, stating they published a Welcome Guide in both English and Cantonese and regularly engage with civil society to update information and ensure accessibility for BN(O) status holders.
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Home Office
18
Recommendation
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Deferred
We particularly welcome the establishment of the inter-Ministerial group to co- ordinate support for status holders but note that as yet there is little transparency about the work of this inter-Ministerial group. The Government must provide further information about the frequency of the group’s meetings, its objectives and priorities. The …
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We particularly welcome the establishment of the inter-Ministerial group to co- ordinate support for status holders but note that as yet there is little transparency about the work of this inter-Ministerial group. The Government must provide further information about the frequency of the group’s meetings, its objectives and priorities. The inter-Ministerial group must draw up a clear integration plan to cover issues ranging from employment to English language, to encourage integration and promote community cohesion; it must ensure that Hong Kongers are given the resources and support they need to study, work and participate in civil and community life here The UK’s offer of visa and settlement routes for residents of Hong Kong 37 in the UK. The group should play a key role in securing and communicating revised estimates of arrivals for local authorities over the lifetime of the visa scheme, to ensure those authorities can continue to plan effectively for likely demand. As the scheme progresses further financial support should be provided to authorities where changes in the settlement pattern make this necessary.
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Government response AI summary
The government's response did not address transparency, integration plans, or resource provision related to the inter-Ministerial group, instead focusing on the Home Office's process for monitoring country situations and updating Country Policy and Information Notes.
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Home Office
19
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Deferred
While cross-departmental work is welcome, the Home Secretary should also appoint a BN(O) Resettlement Panel to implement the plan from the inter-Ministerial group and to coordinate with local authorities, new residents and civil society groups on how best to support integration for Hong Kongers upon arrival. (Paragraph 122)
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While cross-departmental work is welcome, the Home Secretary should also appoint a BN(O) Resettlement Panel to implement the plan from the inter-Ministerial group and to coordinate with local authorities, new residents and civil society groups on how best to support integration for Hong Kongers upon arrival. (Paragraph 122)
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Government response AI summary
The government responds by outlining its process for monitoring country situations and updating country policy and information notes (CPINs), but does not address the recommendation to appoint a BN(O) Resettlement Panel.
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Home Office
20
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Deferred
The Government’s decision to offer a Hong Kong BN(O) visa scheme is an extremely important and welcome expression of the UK’s historic relationship with, and continued commitment to support, the citizens of Hong Kong. As we have experienced with previous community arrivals into the UK, we expect individuals and families …
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The Government’s decision to offer a Hong Kong BN(O) visa scheme is an extremely important and welcome expression of the UK’s historic relationship with, and continued commitment to support, the citizens of Hong Kong. As we have experienced with previous community arrivals into the UK, we expect individuals and families arriving from Hong Kong will enrich the life of our communities and contribute towards our economy. It is essential that the Government also continues to monitor the situation in Hong Kong. It must review its estimates of demand for the scheme regularly so that support for status holders in the UK may be effectively planned and resourced, centrally and locally. It must ensure that strong measures are in place to promote integration and community cohesion.
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Government response AI summary
The government describes its process for monitoring country situations and updating country policy and information notes (CPINs), but does not specifically address reviewing demand estimates for the scheme or ensuring integration measures.
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Home Office
21
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Not Addressed
There remain worrying gaps in this offer of support, notably for young people born since 1 July 1997 who we have heard are particularly vulnerable to political targeting by Beijing.
Government response AI summary
The government explains that BN(O) eligibility was expanded for adult children within a BN(O) status holder's household, but states there are no plans for further expansion to those outside this group. They also point to existing alternative immigration routes like the Youth Mobility Scheme and …
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Home Office
22
Conclusion
Second Report - The UK’s offer of visa …
Acknowledged
Amending the scheme, and making the associated changes we have recommended in this report will enable the Government to improve the scheme further and help to ensure that it provides the genuine protection and assistance the Government set out to provide. (Paragraph 125) 38 The UK’s offer of visa and …
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Amending the scheme, and making the associated changes we have recommended in this report will enable the Government to improve the scheme further and help to ensure that it provides the genuine protection and assistance the Government set out to provide. (Paragraph 125) 38 The UK’s offer of visa and settlement routes for residents of Hong Kong
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Government response AI summary
The government welcomes the report, expresses gratitude for the acknowledgment of the BN(O) immigration route, and notes its success with approximately 64,900 applications received.
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Home Office