Hong Kong BNO visa holders keep their path to settlement, the Home Secretary said on 2 November. Harrogate MP Tom Gordon says the decision is long overdue.

Hong Kong British National Overseas (BNO) visa holders will keep their current path to settlement in the UK, the Home Secretary told MPs on Monday 2 November. Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, says the reassurance is “long overdue”.

Mr Gordon sits on the committee scrutinising the Immigration and Asylum Bill. He says he has campaigned for more than a year to protect BNO rights for the Hong Kong community in his constituency.

What the Home Secretary announced

Shabana Mahmood set out the government’s policy of “earned settlement” in a statement to the Commons. Under it, most people will be placed on a 10-year path to settlement, including everyone earning less than £50,000. Those who commit an immigration breach will see settlement pushed back to 20 years.

Some groups are exempt. “A number of groups will see their path to settlement remain as today,” the Home Secretary said. “These include Hong Kong British Nationals Overseas, members of our armed forces, those with a British connection and those on legacy routes such as Windrush.”

She said more than 200,000 people responded to the consultation held before the policy was finalised.

“Months of cruel uncertainty”

Mr Gordon welcomed the decision but criticised how long it took.

“This is long overdue,” he said. “I’ve been campaigning to preserve BNO (British National Overseas) rights for our local Hong Kong community for over a year.

“The government has finally seen sense but only after months of cruel uncertainty for visa holders from Hong Kong and dedicated campaigning from people like Albert Kam in Harrogate.”

A petition of more than 300 names

The MP says the local campaign took a petition to the government. “Last year, we delivered a petition with over 300 signatures urging the Government to change course and keep the current 5+1 settlement route in place for BNO visa holders already residing in the UK, ensuring that they can continue to settle into their new lives here,” he said.

His verdict on the outcome was short. “It shouldn’t take you this long to decide to do the right thing.”