New UK citizenship visa route opens for Hong Kong residents

A new visa route that offers Hong Kong residents the option to apply to come to the UK and become citizens through a fast-track system officially opened on Sunday.

Around 300,000 Hong Kong nationals are expected to apply for the visa, which is open to holders of the British National (Overseas) passport and their immediate dependents and was announced last year in retaliation of China's controversial new National Security Law.

The UK maintains the new law is a "clear and serious breach" of the Sino-British Joint Declaration under which Hong Kong had been handed over to the Chinese authorities over 23 years ago.

"I am immensely proud that we have brought in this new route for Hong Kong BN(O)s to live, work and make their home in our country," said UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.