BNO "passport" holders could pay HK$ 535,000 (£53,000) just to get into the UK. Looking at the details of the scheme floated by the UK Government it is perhaps not so generous after all to people from Hong Kong who are called British Nationals Overseas. Probably many people in Hong Kong after looking at the sky high UK visa related fees will decide that they just cannot afford it, especially as they are likely to loose Chinese citizenship with no guarantee they'll eventually get real British Citizenship.
For a family of four applying for entry to the UK on a five year visa the immigration health surcharge on it own would be HK$ 126797 (£12,480) paid in advance. On top of that are the UK visa application fees - which are not refundable if an application is rejected. You may not see much change out of HK$ 203200 (£20,000) for the visa application fees.
Any criminal conviction or arrest in any country (whether leading to conviction or not), and potentially even infringements (including traffic offences) is generally grounds for denial of a visa. If a person claims political persecution a refugee asylum application is required. The UK has deported permanent residents of over 30 years standing, and refused visa's based on overseas shop lifting convictions from 40 years prior. This might be a problem for the student rioters in particular. And, under standard UK visa rules, they would also have to pass a test for fluency in English - not known as a strong point for many of them.
The “no recourse to public funds” rule applies. If, for example, you lose your job in the UK and are in financial difficulties, you cannot depend on social benefits from the State for the first five years until you have indefinite leave to remain (permanent residence). While the legislation for the new BNO visa has not yet been written, similar visa class require appliants to provide proof of annual income from a legal source of at least HK$188976 (£18,600.00).
It is important to remember that a person must live continuously in the UK for 5 years prior to being eligible to apply for permanent residence (and more immigration fees). Also, prior to obtaining permanent residence status, on return from any short trip outside the UK (not EU), there is no automatic right of re-entry, but is subject to case by case assessment by immigration officials.
There are numerous potential grounds for refusal of entry, but perhaps the principal one would be inability to show satisfactory evidence of the financial means to support yourself (and any dependents) while in the UK - generally proof of minimum savings (held over 6 months) HK$9601 (£945) per applicant plus HK$6401 (£630) for each dependent to cover living and accommodation costs. Re-entry could also be denied if you had insufficient evidence of acceptable annual income.
The reality is that the old colonial overlords never wanted Hong Kongers in the UK, and the "BNO" scheme is little more than a media ploy against China. As usual, the useful idiots and their "revolution of our times" will be used up and spat out when they no longer serve the purposes of the Anglo-US war on China. And there may well be thousands of stateless persons spending years stuck in UNHCR refugee camps.
Only the minority affluent & rich can afford to migrate to UK: not as simple as what was originally promised by UK Govt! Good lesson to majority of HKongers who cannot believe “forked tongue of White Men” as the Red Indians of US used to say! Hope majority of Hongkongers will come to their senses & accept the reality that their future depends on cooperation with China & that HK is part of a growing China & should be proud of being part of China!
