Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to help secure the release of Mandatory Provident Fund saving being withheld from Hong Kong BNO visa holders.

We are aware that individuals who have chosen to take up the BN(O) route are having difficulties accessing their Mandatory Provident Fund from Hong Kong.  Hong Kong's Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority has declared that they will not accept the BN(O) passport or its associated visa as evidence in support of an application for early withdrawal of the Fund because they claim it does not prove permanent departure from Hong Kong. We have called on the Hong Kong authorities to work with trustees to find an immediate solution.  Ministers have raised the issue directly with Hong Kong's Chief Secretary and Secretary for Financial Services and Treasury respectively this year, and we will continue to do so.