UK shifts BN(O) visa policy to favor Hong Kong protesters convicted in 2019 unrest

The UK Home Office has instructed that convictions from Hong Kong's 2019 protests should generally not bar applicants from the BN(O) visa scheme, reversing a restrictive interpretation that had led to rejections. The policy change, confirmed by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, signals a deliberate softening of UK stance toward Hong Kong dissidents amid ongoing Sino-British tensions. The move may strain UK-China relations but is unlikely to alter broader geopolitical dynamics.

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