Allowing Hongkongers who have moved to the UK to stay permanently after five years could net more than £4bn for the Treasury by 2029, according to a thinktank. At present, Hongkongers and other migrants can apply for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) after living in the UK legally for five years. The change was seen as retaliation for the UK opening a visa route for Hongkongers. Sam Goodman, the senior policy director at the thinktank, said: “Hongkongers who have come to the UK under the BNO visa scheme have already brought billions of pounds to the UK economy. “Our analysis shows that if the UK pathway for permanent residency remains unchanged for those Hongkongers already here, they could bring a further £4bn by the end of the parliament.