On 1 July last year, the British government responded to the Chinese Communist Party regime’s imposition of a draconian national security law in Hong Kong by announcing one of the most generous immigration schemes in modern history. The Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and the Home Secretary Priti Patel deserve credit for recognizing – albeit belatedly – our moral obligation to Hong Kongers who hold British National Overseas (BNO) status, and by offering a pathway to citizenship. This scheme provides a lifeline to three million Hong Kongers and their dependents, meaning that around five million people are eligible to come to the United Kingdom from Hong Kong.
Over the past year, as repression in Hong Kong has intensified and the city’s freedoms have been dismantled, we have seen thousands of Hong Kongers taking up this invitation and coming to the United Kingdom to build new lives here. At least 65,000 Hong Kongers have taken up the BNO scheme in the first two quarters of 2021, and we expect more to come.
But the BNO visa offer by itself is not enough. It is vital that Hong Kongers coming to the United Kingdom feel warmly welcome when they arrive, and receive assistance to help them integrate. That’s why Hong Kong Watch is actively advocating to the government on behalf of Hong Kongers for action to address various challenges they face in settling here, and we have helped catalyse a movement of civil society initiatives across the United Kingdom to help befriend and assist Hong Kongers moving into our communities. A “Welcoming Committee” of civil society groups and individuals was established earlier this year, entirely independent of government, to coordinate efforts.
To its credit, the government has stepped up, appointing Lord Greenhalgh as the Minister responsible for coordinating support for Hong Kongers coming to the United Kingdom. A £43 million funding package was announced, providing support for local government assistance for housing, education and employment. Twelve welcome hubs have been set up to help Hong Kongers in different parts of the country. Further funding has been offered for civil society and community initiatives.
All of this is vital. The overriding message to Hong Kongers is very simple and can be summarized in five words: You are very welcome here. It is tragic that the situation in Hong Kong has deteriorated so much that you feel the need to flee your home city, but I hope that you find a warm welcome in this country and that you discover a freedom and security here that you are no longer able to enjoy in Hong Kong. I know that, once you overcome the initial challenges of moving here, you will contribute so much to this country, as professionals and entrepreneurs, as dynamic people with great initiative and creativity, as people who share our values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights. So be assured: we not only invite you to come, but we welcome you.
By Benedict Rogers
Co-founder and Chief Executive of
Hong Kong Watch
来自郑文杰（Simon Cheng）的致辞
Simon Cheng, a former British Consulate employee, poses for a photograph in London, Britain, July 2, 2020. (REUTERS/Hannah McKay)
