Quilter International: Nearly half a million people issued British National Overseas passports
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 10 September
2021 - New data gathered by Quilter International shows that close to half
a million British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) passports were issued to Hong
Kong residents in 2019 and 2020.
Quilter International's adviser survey
indicated that UK is one of the top three countries the clients plan to migrate
to.
A Freedom of Information request issued to
HM Passport Office found that a total of 463,116 (BN(O)) passports were approved
for issue compared to 68,914 in total during the three preceding years. The
number of passports peaked in autumn and winter 2020 with an average of 50,000
BN(O) passports issued each month.
BN(O) status is a type of British
nationality created in 1985 that people in Hong Kong could register for before
the 1997 handover to China to retain a link with the UK, but the status does
not include right to live or work in the UK. On 31 January 2021, the UK government
however opened a new route for BN(O) passport holders and family members to apply
for a BN(O) visa which allows the holder to live, work and study in the UK and
ultimately provides a route to gaining full British citizenship. This has seen 64,900
BN(O) visas applied for during the first two quarters of this year according to
the National Statistics from UK Home Office.
These statistics are consistent with the
results of a recent survey Quilter International conducted which found that 75%
of Hong Kong financial advisers interviewed say they have received more queries
from clients related to offshore investing and relocating in the last 12
months.
The top three countries the clients plan to
migrate to are the UK (91.7%), Canada (50%) and Australia (41.7%).
The surge in the number of people renewing or
applying for BN(O) passports and more recently applying for BN(O) visas has resulted
in an increase in people seeking financial planning advice specifically related
to an imminent move to the UK. However, the UK uses a different tax year and
the statutory residence test which can both cause issues because many are
unaware that financial planning should start at least one year before arriving in
the UK.
Mark Christal, Hong Kong CEO, Quilter
International says:
"Over the past two years, nearly half a
million Hongkongers have decided to renew or apply for a BN(O) passport or more
recently apply for a BN(O) visa with the hope of moving to the UK.
"For anyone thinking of leaving Hong
Kong, it is important to plan ahead especially as the UK is a vastly complex and
much higher tax jurisdiction. Careful financial planning is a must to help mitigate
significant tax liabilities that also includes wealth held across the world.
For example, the UK's highest income tax band rate is 45%, capital gains on
residential property are taxed at 28% and for other chargeable assets is 20%.
The UK also uses a different tax year and statutory residence test which can
both cause issues unless financial planning should start at least one year before
arriving in the UK.
"There are planning opportunities to potentially
mitigate tax exposure such as holding wealth within a recognised insurance policy,
but a comprehensive wealth planning process including implementation of agreed
plans take time and therefore it is worth starting discussions with a financial
adviser sooner rather than later."
Công ty phát hành chịu trách nhiệm cho nội dung của thông báo này
About Quilter International and Quilter plc
Quilter International is one of the leading
cross-border provider of wealth management solutions and part of Quilter plc.
Quilter
plc is one of the leading wealth management
business in the UK and internationally, helping to create prosperity for the
generations of today and tomorrow.
Quilter
plc oversees £126.6 billion in customer investments (as at 30 June 2021).
It has an
adviser and customer offering spanning financial advice, investment platforms,
multi-asset investment solutions and discretionary fund management.
The
business is comprised of two segments: Advice and Wealth Management and Wealth
Platforms.
Advice and Wealth Management encompasses the financial
planning businesses (Quilter Private Client Advisers, Quilter Financial
Planning and Quilter Financial Advisers), the discretionary fund management
business (Quilter Cheviot) and the Multi-asset investment solutions business
(Quilter Investors).
Wealth Platforms includes the Quilter investment platform and
Quilter International, including AAM Advisory in Singapore.
This press release is for journalists only and
should not be relied upon by financial advisers or customers.
Please remember that past performance is not a
guide to future performance. The value of investments and the income from them
can go down as well as up and investors may not get back any of the amount
originally invested. Exchange rate changes may cause the value of overseas
investments to rise or fall.
This
communication is issued by Quilter plc. This communication is issued by
Quilter plc. Registered office: Senator House, 85 Queen Victoria Street,
London, EC4V 4AB, United Kingdom. Registered number: 6404270. Registered
in England.