逃向自由：為擔心國家安全法的香港人提供的BNO簽證

BNO簽證是英國政府推出了一項移民政策，其中包括為香港的英國國民（海外）護照持有人提供特定的簽證。這項政策是為了回應中國政府對香港實行新的國家安全法，這被包括英國在內的許多國家視為對香港自治和人民公民自由的威脅。

BNO簽證允許持有者在5年內進入英國並在那裡生活、工作和學習，並提供一條通向永居和公民身份的途徑。這項政策被視為英國向香港人民表示支持並為那些擔心國家安全法對其生活和自由造成影響的人提供逃離途徑。

英國政府將BNO簽證政策描述為向香港BNO護照持有人提供的“特別”和“慷慨”的禮物，並作為維護其對香港人民的歷史承諾的方式。

英國政府推出的BNO簽證政策與2019年香港的抗議活動沒有直接關係。儘管這些抗議活動引起了國際社會對香港局勢和公民自由的關注，但BNO簽證政策主要是為了回應中國政府對香港實行的新的國家安全法。這項國家安全法於2020年6月生效，將分裂、顛覆、恐怖主義和與外國勢力勾結的行為定為犯罪行為，並被許多國家，包括英國，批評為對香港自治和自由的威脅。BNO簽證政策被視為英國向香港人民表示支持並為擔心國家安全法對其生活和自由造成影響的人提供逃離途徑的一種方式。

Escape to Freedom: The BNO Visa for Hong Kongers Worried About National Security Law

The UK government recently introduced a new immigration policy that includes a visa specifically for British National (Overseas) passport holders in Hong Kong. This policy was introduced in response to the Chinese government’s imposition of a new national security law in Hong Kong, which many countries including the UK see as a threat to Hong Kong’s autonomy and the civil liberties of its people.

The BNO visa allows holders to enter the UK for up to 5 years and live, work and study there, with a pathway to settlement and citizenship. This policy was introduced as a way for the UK to show support for the people of Hong Kong and to provide a way out for those who are worried about the impact of the national security law on their lives and freedoms.

The UK government has described the BNO visa policy as a “special” and “generous” offer to BNO passport holders in Hong Kong, and as a way to uphold its historic commitment to the people of Hong Kong.

The introduction of the BNO visa policy by the UK government is not directly related to the protests in Hong Kong in 2019. While the protests did draw international attention to the situation in Hong Kong and the erosion of civil liberties there, the BNO visa policy is primarily a response to the Chinese government’s imposition of a new national security law in Hong Kong.

The national security law, which came into effect in June 2020, criminalizes acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces, and has been criticized by many countries including the UK as a threat to the autonomy and freedoms of Hong Kong. The BNO visa policy is seen as a way for the UK to show support for the people of Hong Kong and to provide a way out for those who are worried about the impact of the national security law on their lives and freedoms.