Hong Kongers and welcomers gather to mark 2 years of BN(O) visa scheme

Today, 31st January 2023, marks the two-year anniversary since the UK Government opened a new visa route for British National Overseas (BN(O)) citizens in Hong Kong to move to the UK to live, work, and study.  Since then, over 140,000 Hong Kongers have arrived in the UK through this route.

Recently-arrived Hong Kongers and those helping them to settle and integrate in the UK gathered in London this week at an evening reception held by the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers.

Participants also held up Fai-Chuns (red papers with Lunar New Year greetings), meaning “welcome” and “Settle in well”, as they looked forward to the Year of the Rabbit.

 Felicity Buchan, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, spoke at the event about the importance of the BN(O) visa route and the Welcome Programme for Hong Kongers. She said:

“We have strong historic ties with the people of Hong Kong and we are honoured that so many have chosen to build a home here and have settled so successfully.

“I am proud that the Government continues to fund the Welcome Programme so it can deliver this vital support through Welcome Hubs, councils and grass roots projects.”

Daniel Korski, Chair of the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers, highlighted the welcoming work that is helping Hong Kongers to settle in the UK. He said:

“Thanks to support from welcoming groups all over Britain, Hong Kongers are growing in confidence with their English and are more able to make friends and find a job at the right level.

“I think everyone in the UK will hope that Hong Kongers can successfully settle and thrive here. We can see how this is happening already, with new arrivals contributing to their local communities and the wider prosperity of the UK. The welcoming effort is not just beneficial to Hong Kongers, but also to the communities that they join."

Many organisations across the UK have offered support to help Hong Kongers to settle and integrate into British society, with the help of UK government funding.

Eddie, a BN(O) Hong Konger who is now a volunteer at UK Welcomes Refugees/UK Welcomes Hong Kongers, said:

 “Though starting a new life in a new place is full of challenges, it is a good chance for me to unleash my potential. I appreciate the welcoming experience over the past seven months in London, with lots of support from different organisations.”

Hei Chow, Senior Community Organiser of UK Welcomes Refugees/UK Welcomes Hong Kongers, also a BN(O) Hong Konger himself, said:

 “I can feel the momentum and motivation of Hong Kongers to help – not only confined to their own community, but also to others in the wider community, when they are connected to each other by welcoming efforts.”

To mark the second anniversary of the BN(O) scheme a new video, showcasing the efforts of the welcoming community across the country, has been released by the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers.

The Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers helps to coordinate the UK’s welcoming efforts across civil society, communities, business, education and government. It conducts research to inform policy and shares best practice around the integration of Hong Kongers. It also supports welcoming organisations working to help new arrivals from Hong Kong to settle and integrate in the UK.

The Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers, housed at the charity British Future, is one of the national VCSE grant recipients for the Hong Kong BN(O) Welcome Programme, administered by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.