Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the Hong Kong National Security Law on British businesses operating in Hong Kong.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government has been clear in its opposition to the National Security Law (NSL). China's imposition of the NSL on Hong Kong has seen opposition stifled and dissent criminalised. Alternative voices in Hong Kong's executive, legislature, civil society, and media have been all but extinguished. The UK has called for the National Security Law to be repealed.
The UK Government provides a range of services and advice to support companies doing business in Hong Kong, through our extensive network, both in the UK and at our Consulate-General in Hong Kong. In addition to our digital platforms, such as Great.gov.uk and the Digital Exporting Programme, the Overseas Business Risk (OBR) service provides information on political, economic and security risks when trading overseas. The OBR refers to the NSL under Section 4. Business and human rights.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with Hong Kong officials on the use of arrest warrants against British citizens.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The UK Government is clear that it will not tolerate any attempts by foreign governments to coerce, intimidate, harass, or harm their critics overseas, especially in the UK. The Government will continue to stand with and support members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK.
The Foreign Secretary issued a statement on 24 December 2024 condemning the Hong Kong police's latest arrest warrants and calling on Beijing to repeal the National Security Law. UK Ministers have repeatedly raised our opposition to these actions with the Chinese and Hong Kong authorities; most recently, I did so directly with Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration on 30 May.
Asked by: Andrew Rosindell (Conservative - Romford)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of reports that Hong Kong’s last pro-democracy political party has been disbanded; and if he will have discussions with (a) the Chief Executive of Hong Kong and (b) his Chinese counterparts on the role of Hong Kong’s National Security Law on this decision.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The League of Social Democrats (LSD) is a concerning development that further demonstrates how China's imposition of the National Security Law on Hong Kong has stifled opposition and criminalised dissent. Alternative voices in Hong Kong's executive, legislature, civil society, and media have been all but extinguished. The UK has called for the National Security Law to be repealed and for an end to the prosecution of all individuals charged under it, and we regularly raise our concerns with the Chinese government and with Ministers in the Government of Hong Kong.
Asked by: Rebecca Long Bailey (Labour - Salford)
Question to the Home Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to her Department's White Paper entitled Restoring control over the immigration system, published on 12 May 2025, whether it is her policy to maintain the original terms of the British National (Overseas) visa route.
Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Department for Education) (Equalities)
The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future.
Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in due course.
We regularly engage with representatives of the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK on issues related to the BN(O) visa and will continue to do so.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether he has considered secondary sanctions on UK-based financial institutions that continue to (a) underwrite, (b) trade and (c) market securities issued by Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps subsidiaries listed in Hong Kong.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
In March 2021, the UK, along with international partners, imposed sanctions relating to human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including sanctions against Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. 'Secondary sanctions' can be understood in different ways. UK sanctions apply and are enforced only in relation to UK nationals and entities (wherever they are in the world) and to any activity in the UK or its territorial sea. Consistent with this approach, and across diverse contexts, we continue to keep any potential future sanctions under review.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his Department’s policies of maintaining the BN(O) visa scheme with a five-year pathway to indefinite leave to remain.
Answered by Catherine West - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
The Government is committed to supporting members of the Hong Kong community who have relocated to the UK and those who may come here in future. As the Foreign Secretary stated in the latest Six-monthly Report on Hong Kong, our commitment to the BN(O) visa route remains steadfast.
Further details of all measures announced in the Immigration White Paper will be set out in the normal way in due course, and where necessary, will be subject to consultation.
We regularly engage with representatives of the Hong Kong diaspora in the UK on issues related to the BN(O) visa.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps his Department is taking to recognise overseas professional qualifications held by British National (Overseas) migrants.
Answered by Douglas Alexander - Minister of State (Cabinet Office)
The government recognises that many British National Overseas (BNO) visa holders have valuable professional qualifications. Recognition of overseas professional qualifications is determined by independent occupational regulators, many of which accept qualifications from Hong Kong.
The government understands the recognition process can be challenging for BNO visa holders and refugees. DBT has worked with regulators to develop the Regulated Professions Register, which Hongkongers can use to access information on entry requirements and relevant regulators. DBT has also published guidance on GOV.UK to support refugees navigating the recognition process. DBT continues to work with regulators to develop further profession-specific guidance.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the potential impact of extending the qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain for British National (Overseas) visa holders on the number of young people who (a) hold those visas and (b) are dependents of those visa holders who will be ineligible for (i) home fee status and (ii) student finance support at university.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The creation of a bespoke immigration route for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)), which is a pathway to settlement, reflects the unique and unprecedented circumstances in Hong Kong and the UK’s historic and moral commitment to BN(O) citizens. Subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements, Hong Kong BN(O) status holders will be able to qualify for student finance and home fee status once they have acquired settled status in the UK. There are no plans to amend the eligibility requirements for these persons given that they are in line with those that apply to most other persons on routes to settlement.
The Student Loans Company publishes guidance about the eligibility requirements for accessing student finance.
The department has not made an estimate of the number of BN(O) visa holders or their dependents who are excluded from home fee status.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the number of British National (Overseas) visa holder dependent school pupils who are excluded from home fee status.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The creation of a bespoke immigration route for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)), which is a pathway to settlement, reflects the unique and unprecedented circumstances in Hong Kong and the UK’s historic and moral commitment to BN(O) citizens. Subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements, Hong Kong BN(O) status holders will be able to qualify for student finance and home fee status once they have acquired settled status in the UK. There are no plans to amend the eligibility requirements for these persons given that they are in line with those that apply to most other persons on routes to settlement.
The Student Loans Company publishes guidance about the eligibility requirements for accessing student finance.
The department has not made an estimate of the number of BN(O) visa holders or their dependents who are excluded from home fee status.
Asked by: James Naish (Labour - Rushcliffe)
Question to the Department for Education:
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what her Department's planned timetable is for issuing guidance to dependents of BN(O) visa holders who plan to start university in 2026 on whether they will be eligible for home fee status.
Answered by Janet Daby - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Education)
The creation of a bespoke immigration route for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) (BN(O)), which is a pathway to settlement, reflects the unique and unprecedented circumstances in Hong Kong and the UK’s historic and moral commitment to BN(O) citizens. Subject to meeting the normal eligibility requirements, Hong Kong BN(O) status holders will be able to qualify for student finance and home fee status once they have acquired settled status in the UK. There are no plans to amend the eligibility requirements for these persons given that they are in line with those that apply to most other persons on routes to settlement.
The Student Loans Company publishes guidance about the eligibility requirements for accessing student finance.
The department has not made an estimate of the number of BN(O) visa holders or their dependents who are excluded from home fee status.