Feds setting up new streams for Hong Kong residents to come to Canada
The federal government is offering new immigration programs aimed at attracting young people from Hong Kong to Canada and is promising to expedite paperwork.
A new expedited three-year open work permit will be offered to recent Hong Kong graduates and those with essential work experience. Eligible applicants are those who have graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution in the last five year, and their spouses and children will also eligible to seek permanent Canadian residency.
There will be also be two new streams to permanent residency for “the best and the brightest” Hong Kong residents already in Canada who have graduated with a degree in the last three years, and for those with recent degrees and a year of full-time work experience in Canada who want to come back here, once the existing Covid-19 travel restrictions are lifted.
Source: CTV News #Nov12
https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/feds-offering-new-help-to-residents-of-hong-kong-and-canadians-living-there-1.5186013
#Canada #lifeboat #Hongkonger #HongKong
The federal government is offering new immigration programs aimed at attracting young people from Hong Kong to Canada and is promising to expedite paperwork.
A new expedited three-year open work permit will be offered to recent Hong Kong graduates and those with essential work experience. Eligible applicants are those who have graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution in the last five year, and their spouses and children will also eligible to seek permanent Canadian residency.
There will be also be two new streams to permanent residency for “the best and the brightest” Hong Kong residents already in Canada who have graduated with a degree in the last three years, and for those with recent degrees and a year of full-time work experience in Canada who want to come back here, once the existing Covid-19 travel restrictions are lifted.
Source: CTV News #Nov12
https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/feds-offering-new-help-to-residents-of-hong-kong-and-canadians-living-there-1.5186013
#Canada #lifeboat #Hongkonger #HongKong
CTVNews
Feds setting up new streams for Hong Kong residents to come to Canada
In light of China's ongoing crackdown on democracy, the federal government is offering new immigration programs aimed at attracting young people from Hong Kong to Canada, and is promising to expedite paperwork for Canadians living there to come home.
Canada will not bar entry to Hongkongers arrested for taking part in “peaceful protests,” Immigration Minister says
Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino was testifying Monday evening that Ottawa announced last week to attract young Hong Kong migrants who would be economically useful to this country. He reiterated that no one will be deemed inadmissible “if they have not committed any crime that is known to Canadian law.”
Vancouver-based immigration lawyer Richard Kurland said, “Canada is unlikely to view Hong Kong charges as being equivalent to Canadian criminal charges. The immigration and Refugee Board will bring out the rules used during the Soviet Union era to see if charges were “criminal” or “pollical”.
Source: The Globe and Mail #Nov16
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canada-will-not-bar-entry-to-hong-kongers-arrested-for-taking-part-in/
#Canada #HongKong #lifeboat
Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino was testifying Monday evening that Ottawa announced last week to attract young Hong Kong migrants who would be economically useful to this country. He reiterated that no one will be deemed inadmissible “if they have not committed any crime that is known to Canadian law.”
Vancouver-based immigration lawyer Richard Kurland said, “Canada is unlikely to view Hong Kong charges as being equivalent to Canadian criminal charges. The immigration and Refugee Board will bring out the rules used during the Soviet Union era to see if charges were “criminal” or “pollical”.
Source: The Globe and Mail #Nov16
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-canada-will-not-bar-entry-to-hong-kongers-arrested-for-taking-part-in/
#Canada #HongKong #lifeboat
Government ready for 100 per cent increase in Hong Kong citizens coming to UK
The Foreign Office estimated that 200,000 would move from Hong Kong to the UK but the leaked internal briefing paper warned of a “rapid rise in the issue of BN(O) passport since June”.
The home office predicts the number of BN(O) passport is likely to rise to 733,000 by the end of 2020 from 349,881 in February. This would amount to a rise 110 per cent.
The Prime Minister said in July that Hong Kong’s freedoms were being violated by a new security law and those affected would be offered the chance to settle in the UK and ultimately apply for citizenship.
Under the Government’s plans, all BN(O)’s and their dependents can come to the UK for five year including the right to work and study. They will be able to apply for settled status, ad after a further year, seek citizenship.
Source: The Telegraph #Nov27
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/11/27/government-prepares-give-three-million-hong-kong-citizens-sanctuary/
#UK #BNO #lifeboat #HongKong
The Foreign Office estimated that 200,000 would move from Hong Kong to the UK but the leaked internal briefing paper warned of a “rapid rise in the issue of BN(O) passport since June”.
The home office predicts the number of BN(O) passport is likely to rise to 733,000 by the end of 2020 from 349,881 in February. This would amount to a rise 110 per cent.
The Prime Minister said in July that Hong Kong’s freedoms were being violated by a new security law and those affected would be offered the chance to settle in the UK and ultimately apply for citizenship.
Under the Government’s plans, all BN(O)’s and their dependents can come to the UK for five year including the right to work and study. They will be able to apply for settled status, ad after a further year, seek citizenship.
Source: The Telegraph #Nov27
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/11/27/government-prepares-give-three-million-hong-kong-citizens-sanctuary/
#UK #BNO #lifeboat #HongKong
The Telegraph
Government ready for 100 per cent increase in Hong Kong citizens coming to UK
Leaked internal briefing paper warns of 'rapid rise in the issue of British National (Overseas) passports since June'
Thousands in Hong Kong sign up to BNO visa scheme for UK citizenship
The new immigration route for British National Overseas (BNO) citizens from Hong Kong opened for applications on January 31. 5.4 million Hongkongers could ultimately be eligible for British citizenship under this scheme.
The UK government expects about 300,000 people to come to the UK under this scheme in the first five years.
Almost 5,000 Hongkongers have already applied for the UK’s visa route a fortnight after the scheme opened.
Source: The Times #Feb18
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/thousands-in-hong-kong-sign-up-to-bno-visa-scheme-for-uk-citizenship-jbgffszbn
#BNOVisa #HonKong #UK #lifeBoat
The new immigration route for British National Overseas (BNO) citizens from Hong Kong opened for applications on January 31. 5.4 million Hongkongers could ultimately be eligible for British citizenship under this scheme.
The UK government expects about 300,000 people to come to the UK under this scheme in the first five years.
Almost 5,000 Hongkongers have already applied for the UK’s visa route a fortnight after the scheme opened.
Source: The Times #Feb18
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/thousands-in-hong-kong-sign-up-to-bno-visa-scheme-for-uk-citizenship-jbgffszbn
#BNOVisa #HonKong #UK #lifeBoat
#LifeBoat
UK Government considering proposals to expand #BNO scheme for Hong Kong youngsters born after 1997
On February 10, the UK parliament continued to debate proposed law amendments that would widen the pathway for people with British national (overseas) (BNO) status to resettle in the UK.
The amendment aimed to expand the BNO visa scheme to those aged between 18 and 25 who were born on or after 1997 who have BNO parents to access the scheme independently of their parents.
Speaking in a Committee Stage debate at the House of Lords, the last governor, Chris Patten bluntly criticised the Chief Executives of Hong Kong and members of HK Police Force.
“Everyone of my successors as Chief Executive of Hong Kong had a British passport. ... [the] unhappy paradox is the people at the moment, the quisling, including the member in the police force, [who are] doing the prosecuting, have British passport. And the ones being prosecuted, or the ones being locked up, don't," Lord Patten said.
He continued: "... what is happening in Hong Kong - the destruction of a free city, one of the great free cities in the world - I think that's wrong and we should say it's wrong"
The debate, led by Lord of Alton of Liverpool, saw the amendment receive support from all sides of the House of Commons including with support from Lord Patten of Barnes, the last Governor of Hong Kong as well as the Liberal Democrat and Labour frontbench.
Lord Sharpe of Epsom, the Government Whip in the Lords, said, "We are looking seriously at whether more can be done to support this cohort. I hope this will cheer your Lordships up that we hope to update the House by Report stage."
#ChrisPatten #BNO
Source: Radio France Asia Cantonese; #Feb11
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/uk-bno-02112022140036.html
UK Government considering proposals to expand #BNO scheme for Hong Kong youngsters born after 1997
On February 10, the UK parliament continued to debate proposed law amendments that would widen the pathway for people with British national (overseas) (BNO) status to resettle in the UK.
The amendment aimed to expand the BNO visa scheme to those aged between 18 and 25 who were born on or after 1997 who have BNO parents to access the scheme independently of their parents.
Speaking in a Committee Stage debate at the House of Lords, the last governor, Chris Patten bluntly criticised the Chief Executives of Hong Kong and members of HK Police Force.
“Everyone of my successors as Chief Executive of Hong Kong had a British passport. ... [the] unhappy paradox is the people at the moment, the quisling, including the member in the police force, [who are] doing the prosecuting, have British passport. And the ones being prosecuted, or the ones being locked up, don't," Lord Patten said.
He continued: "... what is happening in Hong Kong - the destruction of a free city, one of the great free cities in the world - I think that's wrong and we should say it's wrong"
The debate, led by Lord of Alton of Liverpool, saw the amendment receive support from all sides of the House of Commons including with support from Lord Patten of Barnes, the last Governor of Hong Kong as well as the Liberal Democrat and Labour frontbench.
Lord Sharpe of Epsom, the Government Whip in the Lords, said, "We are looking seriously at whether more can be done to support this cohort. I hope this will cheer your Lordships up that we hope to update the House by Report stage."
#ChrisPatten #BNO
Source: Radio France Asia Cantonese; #Feb11
https://www.rfa.org/cantonese/news/htm/uk-bno-02112022140036.html
Radio Free Asia
【聚焦香港】彭定康批「外國護照」特首乃「叛徒」
英國上議院周四辯論放寬港人BNO簽證。前港督彭定康促英國政府接納修訂案，他發言時更狠批歷屆香港特首或家人持有英國護照，被迫害的年輕人卻沒有。同日，下議院無異議支持台灣參與多邊組織。另外，英國國會外交委員會下周六啓程訪問台灣。