Written evidence submitted by Together HK CIC (RTS2264)
1.1 Together HK CIC is a UK-registered community interest company formed by and for Hong Kong BN(O) status holders and other Hongkongers who have settled in the United Kingdom.
1.2 This submission draws on a rapid community survey conducted on 23 November 2025, in response to the latest amendments to UK immigration rules and settlement requirements, which now apply across multiple visa categories, including the Hong Kong BN(O) route.
1.3 Within 24 hours, we received nearly 100 responses from BN(O) status holders and their family members currently residing in the UK. While this is not a representative sample of all Hongkongers in the UK, it provides a timely snapshot of concerns from a cross-section of those directly affected.
2.1 As part of wider immigration reforms, the Government has introduced new mandatory criteria applying across visa categories, including but not limited to the BN(O) route. Respondents understood these to include:
● Achieving B2-level English proficiency;
● Passing the Life in the UK Test;
● Meeting a minimum annual income threshold of £12,570;
● Maintaining a clean criminal record; and
● Having no outstanding tax liabilities or NHS/government debt.
2.2 BN(O) residents came to the UK under the 5+1 pathway on the basis of clear, published settlement expectations in 2021. The introduction of additional mandatory requirements at this stage has generated significant anxiety and uncertainty among families who have already built their lives in the UK in good faith reliance on those original terms.
3.1 The survey was conducted online over a 24-hour period on 23 November 2025 and distributed via community networks, including WhatsApp and other social channels commonly used by Hong Kong BN(O) households.
3.2 Respondents were:
● Hong Kong BN(O) status holders and their family members currently residing in the UK;
● Primarily households that arrived between 2021 and 2023;
● Largely in multi-person households, including children, dependants, retirees and primary carers.
3.3 Responses were anonymous. Data has been aggregated and is reported in percentage terms only.
4.1 Overall impact and sentiment
● 70.4% report that the new criteria will have a very significant impact on themselves and their families.
● 87.7% express a mainly negative reaction, citing increased uncertainty and stress.
● 67% fear major disruption to their plans to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR).
● 46% find the updated policy unclear.
4.2 Income and language requirements
● 86.4% believe the income requirement of £12,570 would adversely affect their household.
● 75.3% believe the B2 English requirement would negatively affect them or their family members.
● 62% fear that some family members may be unable to meet the new requirements, putting their ability to obtain ILR at serious risk.
4.3 Reliance on original 5+1 settlement expectations
● Over 99% of respondents believe that the Government should maintain the original settlement requirements that were communicated when they applied for the BN(O) visa, and that new conditions should not be imposed retrospectively after visa approval for those already resident.
4.4 Community priorities
Respondents highlighted several policy priorities:
● 98.8% call for stability and predictability in visa and settlement policies for those already living in the UK.
● 50% emphasise family unity and children’s education as key concerns.
● 54.3% feel that current channels for engaging the Hong Kong community are insufficient.
● 80% want more public consultations and hearings, and 50% request more systematic dialogue between policymakers and community or professional groups.
5.1 A number of respondents noted that some Hongkongers have come to the UK via the protection / political asylum route because of individual risks and circumstances. They expressed concern that settlement expectations for these individuals may be subject to different or inconsistent treatment compared with the BN(O) 5+1 pathway.
5.2 Many felt that, where possible, the settlement expectations for protection-route applicants who face comparable risks and who are similarly contributing and integrating into UK society should be broadly aligned with those for BN(O) visa holders. There is concern that parallel systems with differing criteria may create confusion, inequity and long-term uncertainty for closely related groups within the same community.
6.1 Many respondents described the recent changes as deeply disheartening. A large proportion — 78% — have lived in the UK for 3–4 years, having sold property, left careers and uprooted their families on the basis of the original 5+1 settlement commitments.
6.2 75.7% live in households of two or more persons, and 65.9% are retirees, homemakers or primary carers. These individuals often make substantial non-economic contributions (for example, through care work, volunteering and community support), but may be structurally unable to meet income thresholds despite being integral to family and community stability.
6.3 Respondents consistently reported:
● Heightened stress and anxiety due to uncertainty over whether long-term plans for settlement and citizenship remain achievable;
● Concern that vulnerable family members (such as older relatives, those with lower English proficiency, or primary carers) may be left behind by new criteria;
● A sense that retrospective changes undermine trust in the stability of the UK’s offer to Hong Kong families who relocated in good faith.
In light of the above evidence, we respectfully invite Parliament and the Government to:
7.1 Uphold original commitments for existing BN(O) families
Ensure that BN(O) status holders and their families who are already resident in the UK are assessed for ILR and settlement in line with the core expectations that were reasonably understood when they applied under the 5+1 route in 2021, and avoid imposing new mandatory conditions retrospectively.
7.2 Apply any new requirements in a fair and proportionate way
Where changes are deemed necessary, adopt a fair, proportionate and transparent approach to applying new immigration requirements, particularly for those who have already relocated, established their lives in the UK and are on a clear pathway to settlement.
7.3 Promote clarity, stability and effective communication
Provide clear, accessible guidance (including in plain English and, where possible, translated summaries) so that BN(O) households and related Hong Kong communities can understand the practical implications of policy changes and plan their lives accordingly.
7.4 Avoid inconsistent treatment between closely related routes
Ensure policy consistency and clarity for both BN(O) and protection-route Hongkongers, avoiding parallel systems that create confusion or inequitable outcomes for long-term residents who have fled similar circumstances and are contributing to UK society.
7.5 Strengthen engagement with the Hong Kong community
Develop more regular and structured mechanisms — such as public consultations, hearings and dialogue with community and professional groups — to listen to the experiences of Hong Kong residents affected by immigration and settlement policy changes.
The BN(O) scheme has provided a vital, humane and rules-based pathway for Hong Kong families seeking a stable future in the United Kingdom. Our survey responses show that recent amendments to immigration requirements have caused profound uncertainty for many of those who relocated in reliance on clear settlement expectations.
We respectfully ask that Parliament and the Government take these experiences and concerns into account when scrutinising and implementing reforms, so that the UK’s commitments to this community remain stable, fair and worthy of the trust that so many families have placed in them.
Nov 2025