An influx of Hong Kong nationals to the North West may create opportunities for employers

On 29 March 2023, the Home Office announced a new Hong Kong Veterans Settlement route which will enable Hong Kong nationals who served in the British military to live and work in the UK[i].  Hundreds of Hong Kong nationals who served in the British armed forces will be able to apply to settle in the UK, in recognition of their military service in the 20th century.

In 2021, the Warrington Guardian reported that many Hong Kong nationals were choosing Warrington as their home town[ii].  It reported that, in February 2021, a visa scheme (the British Nationals Overseas visa scheme) allowing natives of Hong Kong – a former British colony – to apply for UK citizenship had opened, with around 300,000 people expected to apply over the coming five years.  Certain areas of Warrington are proving to be particularly popular with Hong Kong nationals, with the new Warrington West station (and easy access to Liverpool and Manchester) being one reason why these neighbourhoods are popular.  Further, there are many new jobs being created in Warrington itself and there are a large number of new housing developments.

The new settlement route will be open to all servicemen and women who served in the British military prior to 1 July 1997 and their family members, including a partner or spouse and dependant children. All those eligible will be able to apply for indefinite leave to enter, allowing them to live and work in the UK without restriction and putting them on a path to full British citizenship.  It’s possible that this new settlement route will lead to a greater number of Hong Kong nationals settling in the North West.

As with all prospective employees, employers seeking to employ Hong Kong nationals will need to conduct their usual right to work checks to ensure that the individual has the right to work in the UK.  For further advice, please contact a member of our AfterAthena Employment and HR team.

Disclaimer: this post has been produced for Napthens’ website blog and does not constitute legal advice.

[i] The Home Office et al (2023) New Settlement Route for Hong Kong Veterans Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-settlement-route-for-hong-kong-veterans (Accessed 31 March 2023)

[ii] Adam Everett (2021) Why Warrington is Becoming a Hotspot for Hong Kong Nationals Moving to the UK Available at: https://www.warringtonguardian.co.uk/news/19534170.many-hong-kong-nationals-moving-warrington/ (Accessed on 31 March 2023)