Dr Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 3 June 2020 to Question 53989 on Hong Kong former naval and military personnel and other former servants of the Crown, that the situation was being kept under review, what conclusions have been drawn about the eligibility of the estimated 250-300 veterans and their families, who were not previously selected for resettlement, to (a) apply for British passports and (b) relocate to the UK; and if she will make a statement.  [146739]

[Due for Answer on 4 February.] 

ANSWER

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Immigration and Future Borders (Kevin Foster): Under the British Nationality Selection Scheme, introduced in 1990 and run until 1 July 1997, a limited number of Hong Kong Military Service Corps personnel who were settled in Hong Kong could apply to register as British citizens. We are giving careful consideration to representations made on behalf of those former Hong Kong Military Service Corps personnel who did not obtain citizenship through the selection scheme. Hong Kong Military Service Corps personnel who hold British National (Overseas) citizenship or are a relevant family member of someone who holds this status, may be eligible for the Hong Kong British National (Overseas) visa which was launched on 31 January 2021.