Why some Hongkongers are taking a fresh look at their British National (Overseas) passports

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With its burgundy cover and coat of arms, the British National (Overseas) passport or BN(O) might look like a regular “full” British passport.

But just as a book cannot be judged by its cover – the relative benefits and rights offered by a BN(O) are complicated.

For nearly a decade after July 1, 1997 – when former British colony Hong Kong was handed back to Chinese sovereignty – the BN(O) passport was the most popular travel document among Hongkongers. At one stage, nearly 800,000 of the passports had been issued.

But by 2015, many residents who are Chinese nationals switched to less-expensive Hong Kong SAR passports, which also provide greater visa-free access abroad.

But amid anti-government protests in 2019, many are taking a fresh look at the BN(O) passports, and there are renewed calls for London to widen citizenship rights offered by the document.

Related story:
What is a BN(O) passport and what is a holder entitled to? https://sc.mp/2AAOpmq

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