The United Kingdom is to introduce a new visa which will allow over 5-million residents of Hong Kong to settle in Britain.
The visa will be introduced at the end of January and it is estimated that 70% of Hong Kong’s population will be eligible for it. Currently the British government believes that about 300 000 people will take up the offer over the next five years.
The British government is making this offer to residents of its former colony as China, which now governs the territory, starts undermining democracy and cracking down on civil and other liberties in Hong Kong.
The visa will allow Hong Kong citizens to settle in the UK and after six years allow them to apply for citizenship. People who take up the visa will need to fund themselves but will be allowed to access state healthcare and education for their children.