How do Hong Kong people get BNO passports before reunification?

BNO is the abbreviation of British National (Overseas) passport, which is British nationality. British nationals and Commonwealth citizens, but this status does not grant the right of abode in any region. British National (Overseas) was established in the1980s because of the future of Hong Kong, so that British Dependent Territories citizens in Hong Kong can apply, so that they can continue to maintain certain relations with Britain after the transfer of sovereignty in Hong Kong.

British Dependent Territories Citizenship (BDTC) acquired by virtue of Hong Kong will expire on 1 July, 9971. The person concerned applied for registration as a British National (Overseas) on June 1987, and the registration procedure was terminated on June 1997, with more than 3.4 million British Dependent Territories citizens registered in Hong Kong. British nationals (overseas) are valid for life and will not be invalidated by acquiring other nationalities, but they cannot be inherited by children and future generations. All BN (O) s have the right to apply for BN (O) passports.

Extended data

1. All Hong Kong residents of China descent, those born in China (including Hong Kong) and others who meet the requirements of China nationality stipulated in the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China are China citizens.

2. All Hong Kong compatriots and China compatriots are China citizens, regardless of whether they hold British Dependent Territories Citizen passports or British National (Overseas) passports. From 1 July, 19971day, the above-mentioned China citizens may continue to travel to other countries or regions with valid travel documents issued by the British government, but they shall not enjoy British consular protection in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and other parts of People's Republic of China (PRC).

3. According to the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China, British citizenship acquired by any China citizen in Hong Kong through the "Right of Abode Scheme" of the British government will not be recognized. These people are still China citizens, and they are not entitled to British consular protection in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and other parts of People's Republic of China (PRC).

References:

Interpretation of the National People's Congress -NPC Standing Committee on Several Issues Concerning the Implementation of the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region