Oz welcome widens for Hongkongers
Australia will introduce two permanent residence visas for Hong Kong citizens who have been living in Australia, the Australian government said yesterday.
About 9,000 Hong Kong citizens in Australia on temporary visas will be eligible to apply for the permanent visas, which open next March, said Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke.
In the 18 months to July 2021, about 6,000 Hong Kong citizens in Australia have been granted permanent visas, and 9,250 applications were filed, Australian immigration department records show.
"These new visas will provide a pathway for temporary graduates and temporary skilled workers from Hong Kong currently in Australia on extended visas, and will build on the already close family connections and economic ties with Hong Kong that have existed for many years," Hawke said in a statement.
"These dedicated and simpler visa streams for Hong Kong nationals will attract skills and talent and build business links, helping to boost productivity and create further job opportunities for Australians," he added.
Both Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders will be eligible for the visas.
The pathways to permanent residence will open on March 5 next year for eligible applicants through two new visa streams.
One stream is subclass 191 - the Hong Kong (regional) stream, for primary visa holders who were usually residing in Australia for a continuous period of at least three years immediately before applying and have lived, worked and studied exclusively in a designated regional area for that period, while holding the qualifying visa.
Primary visa holders who were residing in Australia for a continuous period of at least four years immediately before applying, and who held the qualifying visa during that period, can apply through subclass 189 - the Hong Kong stream.
There are about 8,800 existing temporary skilled, temporary graduate and student visa holders who will be eligible for these new visas.
Australia has been critical of Beijing imposing a national security law in Hong Kong and changing its electoral system.Canberra says those moves undermine rights and the high degree of autonomy that China had guaranteed until 2047.
In the 18 months to July 2021, about 6,000 Hong Kong citizens in Australia have been granted permanent visas, and 9,250 applications were filed, Australian immigration department records show.
"These new visas will provide a pathway for temporary graduates and temporary skilled workers from Hong Kong currently in Australia on extended visas, and will build on the already close family connections and economic ties with Hong Kong that have existed for many years," Hawke said in a statement.
"These dedicated and simpler visa streams for Hong Kong nationals will attract skills and talent and build business links, helping to boost productivity and create further job opportunities for Australians," he added.
Both Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders will be eligible for the visas.
The pathways to permanent residence will open on March 5 next year for eligible applicants through two new visa streams.
One stream is subclass 191 - the Hong Kong (regional) stream, for primary visa holders who were usually residing in Australia for a continuous period of at least three years immediately before applying and have lived, worked and studied exclusively in a designated regional area for that period, while holding the qualifying visa.
Primary visa holders who were residing in Australia for a continuous period of at least four years immediately before applying, and who held the qualifying visa during that period, can apply through subclass 189 - the Hong Kong stream.
There are about 8,800 existing temporary skilled, temporary graduate and student visa holders who will be eligible for these new visas.
Australia has been critical of Beijing imposing a national security law in Hong Kong and changing its electoral system.Canberra says those moves undermine rights and the high degree of autonomy that China had guaranteed until 2047.