Hong Kong BNO Passports not to be considered by China as valid travel documents 

Hong Kong BNO Passports not to be considered by China as valid travel documents 

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II – International Relations 

In news

• Chinese foreign ministry said that it will consider not recognizing Hong Kong British national overseas (BNO) passports as valid travel documents. 
• Recently, the British government had announced new visa rules for British National Overseas citizens in HK.

Key takeaways 

New visa rules

• Britain will start to process BNO visa applications for residents in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) from January 31, 2021.
• As per new visa rule, BNO Visa holders will have the right to work and study in the UK for a period of five years. They can apply for citizenship after the sixth year.
  

Important value additions 

BNO Passport

• The British National (Overseas) passport, commonly referred to as the BN(O) passport, is a British passport for persons with British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status.
• The passport was first issued in 1987 after the Hong Kong Act 1985 from which this new class of British nationality was created.
• Holders of BN(O) passports are permanent residents of Hong Kong who were British Dependent Territories citizens until 30 June 1997 and had registered as BN(O)s.