根据周一的一项官方声明，持英国国民（海外）签证（BN(O)签证）移居英国的香港人将被豁免于将定居资格年限由五年延长至十年的计划之外。
Hongkongers moving to the United Kingdom under the British National (Overseas) visa scheme will be exempt from plans to double the qualifying period for settlement to 10 years, according to an official announcement on Monday.
但他们仍将面临更严格的英语语言和犯罪记录要求，此外还须满足现有条件，如完成五年连续居住并通过“英国生活”考试。
But they will still face stricter English-language and criminality requirements, alongside existing conditions such as completing five years of continuous residence and passing the Life in the UK test.
英国内政大臣夏巴娜·马哈茂德周一概述了改革移民规则的计划，根据该计划，移民将不再在五年后几乎自动获得在英国永久居住的权利。
British Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Monday outlined plans to overhaul immigration rules, under which migrants would no longer gain the right to live permanently in the UK almost automatically after five years.
取而代之的是，获得永久定居资格的标准合格期将延长至十年，而对于被认定为对国家贡献更大的人群，等待期将缩短。
Instead, the standard qualifying period for permanent settlement would double to 10 years, with shorter waits for those deemed to make greater contributions to the country.
例如，收入最高者将有资格在三年后定居，而年收入超过50,271英镑（约合67,398美元）的人士以及部分公共服务工作者（包括医护人员）将在五年后具备资格。
The highest earners, for example, would be eligible to settle after three years, while those earning more than £50,271 (US$67,398) and some public service workers, including medical staff, would qualify after five years.
马哈茂德表示，BN(O)签证持有者属于豁免延长合格期和收入要求变动的群体之一。
Mahmood said BN(O) visa holders were among the groups exempt from the longer qualifying period and changes to income requirements.
“他们被豁免于任何收入变动之外。这反映了我们对他们的长期承诺，但他们必须满足新的最低要求，”她说。
“They are exempt from any of [the] income changes. That reflects our long-standing commitment to them, but they have to meet the new minimum requirements,” she said.
她是在回应议员克里斯·柯蒂斯的提问，柯蒂斯表示马哈茂德已听取了关于英国对BN(O)签证持有者责任的担忧。
She was responding to a question from MP Chris Curtis, who said Mahmood had listened to concerns about the country’s responsibilities towards BN(O) visa holders.
英国在香港实施《国家安全法》后，专门为香港人推出了这一定制签证计划。自2021年计划开放以来，已有超过18.7万人获发BN(O)签证。
Britain introduced the bespoke visa scheme for Hongkongers following the enactment of the national security law in the city. More than 187,000 people have been issued BN(O) visas since the scheme opened in 2021.
同为议员的纳文杜·米什拉表示，许多香港人选择将斯托克波特和大曼彻斯特作为家园，为“城镇和城市地区做出了宝贵贡献”。
Fellow MP Navendu Mishra said many Hongkongers had chosen to make Stockport and Greater Manchester their home, making “an invaluable contribution to our town and city region”.
“过去几年里，他们中的许多人一直担心无限期居留许可可能发生变化。过去几个月里，我见过他们中的许多人，”他说。
“Many of them have been worried over the last couple of years about potential upcoming changes to indefinite leave to remain. I have met many of them over the last few months,” he said.
“国务大臣还能说些什么，来让使用英国国民（海外）签证计划的香港社区民众放心，确信他们受欢迎留在这个国家，并且在获得无限期居留许可方面将拥有公平的机会？”
“What more can the Secretary of State say to reassure the people from the Hong Kong community who have used the British National (Overseas) visa scheme that they are welcome in this country and that they will have a fair shot in terms of indefinite leave to remain?”
对此，马哈茂德回应说：“他们必须满足英语语言的最低要求，以及无犯罪记录等条件……年满65周岁者可豁免英语要求的变更，我认为这也为通过该途径抵达的人提供了一个公平的解决方案。”根据拟议的定居规则，所需英语水平将从B1级提高到B2级，新标准相当于外语A-Level（英国高中会考）资格。申请人还需要“完全无犯罪记录”，这比目前12个月缓刑的门槛更为严格。
In response, Mahmood said, “They have to meet the minimum requirements for English language, as well as no criminality and so on … The over-65s are exempt from the change in relation to English, which I think also provides a fair resolution for those who arrived on that route.”Under the proposed settlement rules, the required English-language level would rise from B1 to B2, with the new standard equivalent to an A-level qualification in a foreign language. Applicants would also need a “spotless criminal record”, tightening the current threshold of a 12-month suspended sentence.
其他“不可协商的条件”将包括：不欠纳税人任何债务，以及有持续缴纳国家保险金的记录。
Other “non-negotiation conditions” would include having no outstanding debt to the taxpayer and a record of sustained national insurance contributions.