The Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd logo is displayed atop a building at Cathay Pacific City, the company's headquarters, in Hong Kong in August, 2018. Photo:VCG

Cathay Pacific said that from Sunday (January 31) the British National (Overseas) passport will no longer be recognized as valid travel document for traveling. 

The carrier said that BN(O) passport cannot be used for immigration clearance in Hong Kong, and BN(O) passport cannot be used as any form of proof of identity in Hong Kong, according to the airline's official website.

The announcement came after the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government announced that with effect from Sunday, BN(O) passports will no longer be recognized as valid travel document or proof of identity.

The carrier said when passengers boarding flights for Hong Kong, airlines concerned must require Hong Kong residents traveling on BN(O) passports to present their HKSAR Passports or Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards. 

China has officially withdrawn its recognition of BN(O) passports as a valid travel and ID document starting from Sunday (January 31) as the UK began accepting citizenship applications for BN(O)-eligible Hong Kong residents starting on the same day.

Global Times