立法會議員何君堯日前在聯合國人權理事會會議上，聲稱「為持BNO簽證的移英香港人發聲」，引起社會熱議。何君堯在發言中指出，2019年反送中運動後，大量香港居民透過BNO簽證計劃移居英國，但卻未能順利重投專業工作，在就業和融入社會方面遇到不少困難。他批評英國政府利用香港與英國的歷史聯繫，吸引香港居民移居英國，以解決脫歐後面對的勞動力短缺和財務困境，是「榨取金錢」，而非真正關顧他們的福祉。他更質疑BNO計劃未能保證港人一定可以取得英國國籍，導致他們處於不穩定和不明朗的情況，並以澳洲和加拿大等國的移民計劃為例，指責英國政府缺乏道德。他呼籲英國政府立即糾正相關政策，保障BNO香港人的權利和尊嚴。
何君堯此番言論，在香港各界人士關注，不少網民對其言論表示詫異。然而，細閱其發言內容，便不難發現，何君堯並非提出什麼新論點，而是藉聯合國人權理事會會議這個平台，再次表達英國利用香港人來解決自身經濟問題的舊有觀點。這種論調，在過去已多次出現，並非新鮮事。
然而，何君堯要求英國政府「確保BNO香港人的權利和尊嚴」，這點卻是相對新鮮的。過往，何君堯的言論多以親中立場為主，此次發言卻罕有地關注香港人在英國的處境，並以人權和尊嚴為訴求。這也引發了人們對其動機的揣測。
值得留意的是，何君堯的發言地點是聯合國人權理事會會議。熟悉何君堯作風的人士都知道，他一向熱衷於在國際場合發聲，展現其「世界仔」的形象。因此，他的這次發言，或可被理解為其一貫的作風，不必過於深究其背後動機。
諷刺的是，往往是親中陣營的政治人物，更能清晰地指出英國政府在BNO政策上的不足之處。這也反映了，英國政府在處理BNO政策時，的確存在一些不足，未能充分考慮BNO持有人的需要和福祉。更重要的是，英國作為《公民權利和政治權利國際公約》(ICCPR) 的簽署國，根據公約，英國有責任保障在其管轄範圍內所有人士的基本公民權利和政治權利，包括BNO持有人享有免受歧視、公平審訊、人身自由、言論自由等權利。何君堯的言論，無論其動機為何，都無意中點出了英國政府在ICCPR框架下，需要正視BNO持有人平權問題，以及英國政府有責任履行其國際人權承諾。
BNO政策的根本問題，在於其歷史淵源。 BNO護照源於《中英聯合聲明》，但聲明從未承諾BNO持有人享有在英國的居留權，更遑論公民權。 BNO是為應對主權移交而設，然而，英國政府在香港主權移交過程中，沒有給予香港人民公投機會，直接將香港從一個相對民主的社會，交到一個極權政權手中。 英國政府缺乏應變計劃，令香港人在面對中國日益收緊的管治，以及2020年《港區國安法》的實施下，成為政治壓迫的受害者。 雖然英國政府推出BNO簽證計劃，讓部分香港人得以移居英國，但BNO持有人並不能直接成為英國公民，仍需經過漫長的入籍程序。 英國政府可以考慮，在不影響英國公民身份前提下，為BNO持有人提供另一種更穩定的公民身份，例如「英國屬土公民」(例如：百慕達或開曼群島公民) ，讓他們免除五年後才可申請入籍的憂慮，從而獲得更穩定的居留和工作保障。
BNO簽證計劃，無疑是為許多香港人提供了逃離壓迫的機會，如同一個救生艇。但其保障仍然不足夠，未能提供與其他移民計劃相若的權利和便利，例如快速取得英國國籍的途徑。香港人需要更便捷的定居途徑，而非僅僅依賴BNO這種帶有附帶條件的居留計劃。何君堯的言論，雖然出發點令人質疑，但卻無意中揭示了BNO政策的不足，以及香港人在英國仍需繼續爭取更公平的權益，以及英國政府履行國際人權公約的責任。
所謂「英國屬土公民身份」，指的是英國海外領土或屬地的公民身份。英國擁有十四個海外領土，這些領土的居民，享有不同程度的英國公民身份，這些權利和責任，因應不同屬土而有所不同。這些身份，並非英國公民(British Citizen) ，但享有某些特權，例如免簽證前往英國。
向BNO持有人提供「英國屬土公民身份」，可以是解決BNO平權問題的一個方案。此方案的好處是，它可以在不影響英國公民身份的前提下，為BNO持有人提供更穩定的居留和工作保障，以及免除漫長的入籍程序的憂慮。獲得「英國屬土公民」身份的BNO持有人，可以享有在英國居住和工作的權利，並享有其他相關的權利和福利，例如醫療保健和教育。同時，此方案亦能避免因大量BNO持有人入籍而對英國社會造成衝擊。
然而，此方案亦存在一些挑戰。首先，需要決定哪些英國屬土提供此公民身份，以及如何分配。其次，需要考慮如何平衡BNO持有人的權利與英國屬土居民的權利。最後，需要修訂相關法律和法規，以確保此方案的順利實施。
為確保BNO持有人負責任地使用此身份，並避免濫用，可以考慮加入一些條件，例如：要求擁有「英國屬土公民」身份的BNO持有人，每年在英國境外逗留時間不得超過一年。這個條件，可以確保BNO持有人，真正地在英國居住和生活，而非僅僅是為了取得身份而逗留。此條件亦可避免濫用此身份，以取得英國公民身份為跳板，以及避免對英國社會造成不必要的負擔。
BNO簽證計劃存在一個不公平的現象：BNO簽證持有人，即使在英國出生的小朋友，也不能自動獲得BNO身份，反而需要重新申請BNO簽證，才能獲得在英國居住的權利。 這與其他一些移民計劃，例如BOTC身份持有人的安排有所不同，BOTC身份的持有人，其子女在當地出生，或可在符合當地法例下，較易取得BOTC身份。 這種差別待遇，對BNO持有人而言，極為不公平，亦與英國政府承諾保障BNO持有人權益的說法有所出入。 提供「英國屬土公民」身份，可以解決這個問題，讓BNO持有人在英國出生的小朋友，有機會獲得「英國屬土公民」身份，享有在當地出生長大的權利，以及避免日後申請英國國籍時面對不必要的障礙。
「英國屬土公民身份」方案，可以是解決BNO平權問題的一個可行方案，但需要仔細考慮其具體細節，以及可能帶來的挑戰。此方案必須在保障BNO持有人權益的同時，亦要顧及英國的利益和社會穩定。
Junius Ho, a Legislative Council member, has stirred controversy by asserting he represents “Hong Kongers in the UK holding BNO visas” at a UN Human Rights Council meeting. He mentioned that many Hong Kong residents moved to the UK under the BNO visa scheme after the 2019 anti-extradition law protests but have encountered considerable challenges in reestablishing their careers and integrating into society. Ho criticized the UK government for exploiting Hong Kong’s historical connections to attract these residents, addressing issues like labor shortages and financial troubles resulting from Brexit—accusing the UK of using Hong Kongers for economic gain without genuine concern for their welfare. He also challenged the BNO scheme’s inability to secure British citizenship for Hong Kongers, leading to instability and uncertainty. Moreover, he pointed to Australia and Canada’s immigration systems as more ethical and effective alternatives, urging the UK to amend its policies to better protect BNO visa holders and uphold their rights and dignity.
Junius Ho’s comments have generated significant attention and surprise across different sectors in Hong Kong. However, a detailed analysis shows that his statement, instead of offering new insights, employs the UN Human Rights Council to restate a persistent belief that the UK is using Hong Kong residents to mitigate its economic issues. This narrative has existed for quite a while and is not novel.
His appeal to the UK government to “guarantee the rights and dignity of BNO Hong Kongers” stands out as a new element in his statement. Although he has been recognized for his pro-Beijing views, Junius Ho’s unusual emphasis on the struggles faced by Hong Kongers in the UK, framing his arguments around human rights and dignity, has sparked speculation regarding his intentions.
It’s important to highlight that Junius Ho addressed the UN Human Rights Council. Those who are acquainted with his style recognize that he often utilizes international venues to convey a global presence. Thus, his speech could be seen as aligning with his well-known persona, which diminishes the necessity for extensive conjecture regarding his true motives.
Ironically, it’s often the pro-Beijing politicians who most effectively point out the flaws in the UK’s BNO policy. This underscores the genuine shortcomings in how the UK government has managed the BNO scheme, as it has failed to properly consider the needs and welfare of BNO visa holders. Importantly, as a signatory of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the UK is obligated to protect the fundamental civil and political rights of everyone in its jurisdiction, including BNO visa holders. These rights encompass freedom from discrimination, the right to a fair trial, personal liberty, and freedom of expression. Comments from Junius Ho, regardless of his intentions, unintentionally emphasize the UK government’s duty under the ICCPR to tackle BNO equality issues and honor its international human rights obligations.
The primary issue with the British National Overseas (BNO) policy resides in its historical context. Although the BNO passport originated from the Sino-British Joint Declaration, this declaration did not guarantee residency rights in the United Kingdom for BNO holders, much less citizenship. The BNO scheme was conceived to facilitate the handover of sovereignty. However, the United Kingdom government did not offer the people of Hong Kong a referendum prior to the handover, resulting in the transfer of Hong Kong from a relatively democratic society to an authoritarian regime without the consent of its populace. The absence of a contingency plan from the UK government has left residents of Hong Kong susceptible to increasingly stringent governance by China, culminating in the implementation of the National Security Law in 2020. Although the BNO visa scheme provides an escape route for some individuals, BNO holders are not guaranteed automatic British citizenship and must navigate a protracted naturalization process. It may be prudent for the UK government to consider extending an alternative form of citizenship to BNO holders, such as British Overseas Territories Citizen (BOTC) status- similar to that of Bermuda or the Cayman Islands—without adversely affecting British citizenship. This approach could alleviate concerns regarding the five-year waiting period for citizenship applications, thereby providing enhanced security and stability in their residency and employment situations.
The British National Overseas (BNO) visa scheme has, without a doubt, provided numerous Hong Kong residents with a vital avenue for escape from oppression. However, the protections afforded by this scheme remain inadequate, as they do not grant the same rights and conveniences associated with other immigration programs, including expedited pathways to British citizenship. It is imperative for Hong Kong residents to have access to more streamlined routes to settlement, rather than the conditional residency currently offered under the BNO scheme. The remarks made by Junius Ho, while questionable in their intent, inadvertently highlight the deficiencies of the BNO policy and underscore the continuous necessity for Hong Kongers to advocate for equitable treatment and enhanced rights within the United Kingdom. Additionally, this situation emphasizes the obligation of the UK government to uphold its international human rights commitments.
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Author: Henry
黃律師於2014年成為香港執業律師，2018年取得英格蘭及威爾斯執業律師資格，2024年取得愛爾蘭註冊律師資格，並於2025年獲得蘇格蘭律師資格。黃律師精通廣東話、普通話、英語及日語，擅長處理多項法律事務，包括家事法（尤其於離婚、財產分配及子女撫養權安排方面經驗豐富）、刑事訴訟、民事訴訟，以及國際法（專注於人權及刑事領域）。此外，黃律師亦處理各類移民相關事宜，包括難民申請、定居及入籍申請、工作簽證申請等，並積極於英國舉辦BNO定居及入籍講座，為有需要的社群提供專業資訊。 黃律師熱心公益及地區事務，現為 Hong Kong Professionals CIC (hkpcic.org.uk) 及 Descendants of Victoria City (dovc.co.uk) 的創辦人，積極參與社區建設，並對不同人權議題持續發聲。 目前，黃律師擔任香港 David Fenn and Co. 律師行及英國 Perilli & Ho Solicitors 律師行的顧問律師，同時也是蘇格蘭 Jones Whyte Solicitors 的合作夥伴。其執業範圍廣泛，涵蓋香港及英國住宅及商業物業買賣、移民入境事務、各類民事及刑事訴訟、商業及合約事宜、家庭糾紛、遺囑及遺產處理，以及人權法等。 工作之餘，黃律師熱愛運動，擔任業餘足球隊的守門員。同時，他也對品酒情有獨鍾，對各類酒品均有深入研究，更擅長調製各式雞尾酒。 Henry Wong qualified as a solicitor in Hong Kong, England and Wales, Ireland and Scotland respective in 2014, 2018, 2024 and 2025. Henry is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and Japanese, and he specialises in a broad range of legal matters, including family law (possessing significant experience in divorce, assets division, and child arrangements), criminal litigation, civil litigation, and international law, with a focus on human rights and criminal law. He additionally manages various immigration-related matters, encompassing refugee applications, settlement and naturalisation applications, work visa applications, and actively conducts BNO settlement and naturalisation seminars in the UK to provide professional information to communities in need. Henry Wong is dedicated to public welfare and community affairs. He is currently the founder of Hong Kong Professionals CIC (hkpcic.org.uk) and Descendants of Victoria City (dovc.co.uk), where he actively participates in community building and consistently advocates for various human rights issues. At present, Henry serves as a consultant solicitor for David Fenn & Co. in Hong Kong and Perilli & Ho Solicitors in London....
黃律師於2014年成為香港執業律師，2018年取得英格蘭及威爾斯執業律師資格，2024年取得愛爾蘭註冊律師資格，並於2025年獲得蘇格蘭律師資格。黃律師精通廣東話、普通話、英語及日語，擅長處理多項法律事務，包括家事法（尤其於離婚、財產分配及子女撫養權安排方面經驗豐富）、刑事訴訟、民事訴訟，以及國際法（專注於人權及刑事領域）。此外，黃律師亦處理各類移民相關事宜，包括難民申請、定居及入籍申請、工作簽證申請等，並積極於英國舉辦BNO定居及入籍講座，為有需要的社群提供專業資訊。
黃律師熱心公益及地區事務，現為 Hong Kong Professionals CIC (hkpcic.org.uk) 及 Descendants of Victoria City (dovc.co.uk) 的創辦人，積極參與社區建設，並對不同人權議題持續發聲。
目前，黃律師擔任香港 David Fenn and Co. 律師行及英國 Perilli & Ho Solicitors 律師行的顧問律師，同時也是蘇格蘭 Jones Whyte Solicitors 的合作夥伴。其執業範圍廣泛，涵蓋香港及英國住宅及商業物業買賣、移民入境事務、各類民事及刑事訴訟、商業及合約事宜、家庭糾紛、遺囑及遺產處理，以及人權法等。
工作之餘，黃律師熱愛運動，擔任業餘足球隊的守門員。同時，他也對品酒情有獨鍾，對各類酒品均有深入研究，更擅長調製各式雞尾酒。
Henry Wong qualified as a solicitor in Hong Kong, England and Wales, Ireland and Scotland respective in 2014, 2018, 2024 and 2025. Henry is fluent in Cantonese, Mandarin, English, and Japanese, and he specialises in a broad range of legal matters, including family law (possessing significant experience in divorce, assets division, and child arrangements), criminal litigation, civil litigation, and international law, with a focus on human rights and criminal law. He additionally manages various immigration-related matters, encompassing refugee applications, settlement and naturalisation applications, work visa applications, and actively conducts BNO settlement and naturalisation seminars in the UK to provide professional information to communities in need.
Henry Wong is dedicated to public welfare and community affairs. He is currently the founder of Hong Kong Professionals CIC (hkpcic.org.uk) and Descendants of Victoria City (dovc.co.uk), where he actively participates in community building and consistently advocates for various human rights issues.
At present, Henry serves as a consultant solicitor for David Fenn & Co. in Hong Kong and Perilli & Ho Solicitors in London. He is also a legal link partner with Jones Whyte Solicitors in Scotland. His practice area is extensive, encompassing the sale and purchase of residential and commercial properties in both Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, immigration matters, various civil and criminal litigation cases, commercial and contractual matters, family disputes, wills and estate administration, as well as human rights law.
Outside of his professional commitments, Henry Wong enjoys sports and is a goalkeeper for an amateur football team. He also possesses a passion for wine, possesses a deep understanding of various types of alcoholic beverages, and is skilled in making cocktail.
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