The new immigration route for British National Overseas (BNO) citizens from Hong Kong opened for applications on January 31. It offers up to 5.4 million Hongkongers a five-year visa and a path to full British citizenship, The Times reported.

The government has said it expects about 300,000 people to use the scheme in its first five years, adding a number the size of Coventry to the country’s population, the newspaper reported.

Government sources told The Times that about half of the 5,000 applications received were from Hongkongers who were already in Britain having been granted Leave Outside the Rules, which offered temporary settlement for those fleeing China’s security crackdown.

The Chinese government imposed the National Security Law in Hong Kong last year, in breach of its commitments under international law.

The visa reflects the UK’s historic  and  moral commitment to the people of Hong Kong who have had their rights and freedoms restricted.

Those with British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) status and their eligible family members will be able to come to the UK to live, study and work, the UK government said in a statement.

As with other visas, after  5 years in the UK, they  will be able to apply for  settlement, followed by  British citizenship after a further 12 months, read the statement.