U.K. Expands Visa Program Amid Tensions Over Jimmy Lai's Sentencing

The United Kingdom has expanded its British National Overseas (BNO) visa program, allowing children of BNO status holders—who were under 18 at the time of Hong Kong's handover to mainland China in June 1997—to apply independently of their parents. This decision comes in the wake of heightened diplomatic tensions following the sentencing of pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai to 20 years in prison under Hong Kong's national security law. The BNO visa scheme was initiated in 2021 after the imposition of the national security law, which has led to significant emigration from Hong Kong, with over 230,000 visas granted and nearly 170,000 individuals relocated to the U.K.

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On February 10, 2026, a Hong Kong court sentenced Jimmy Lai, the founder of the now-defunct Apple Daily newspaper, to 20 years in prison, marking the heaviest penalty under the national security law. Lai, a vocal critic of Beijing, faced charges of colluding with foreign forces and publishing seditious materials, to which he pleaded not guilty. His sentencing has been described by critics and his family as indicative of the criminalization of dissent in Hong Kong.

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In response to the U.K.'s visa expansion, China's embassy in London condemned the move as an interference in its internal affairs, labeling it "despicable" and "reprehensible." The embassy spokesperson criticized the BNO scheme for allegedly misleading Hong Kong residents and leading them to face discrimination in the U.K. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer raised Lai's case with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a recent visit to Beijing, advocating for Lai's release. The British government characterized Lai's sentencing as part of a broader "deterioration of rights and freedoms" in Hong Kong and pledged to engage further with Beijing regarding his case.

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Hong Kong's Chief Executive John Lee defended the sentencing, asserting that Lai deserved the punishment for his actions, which he claimed included "poisoning the minds of citizens" and colluding with foreign forces. Internationally, figures such as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio have condemned the ruling, calling it "unjust and tragic" and urging for humanitarian parole for Lai.

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The U.K. government estimates that approximately 26,000 individuals will arrive from Hong Kong over the next five years as a result of the expanded visa program. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing international calls for Lai's release and continued scrutiny of Hong Kong's political climate under the national security law.

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