Hong Kong pro-democracy activist in exile in the United Kingdom, Law Kwun Chung, revealed in a Twitter post on the 7th that he has been granted political asylum in the UK. He wrote, “After 4 months of several interviews, the UK Home Office has informed me that my application for political asylum has been approved. As the Hong Kong government has wanted me under the National Security Act, this proves that I face serious political persecution and cannot return to Hong Kong without risk.”
Law also said in a tweet that his case may not apply to all those who come from Hong Kong to apply for political asylum. He noted that some people may not have enough evidence to support their claims because of a lack of media coverage or because they fled before being persecuted.
Most of them live in pain and anxiety due to the fear that their applications will be rejected,” he wrote. I hope my case will help the British Home Office better understand the complex situation in Hong Kong. In order to free more protesters from Beijing’s authoritarian oppression, the British Home Office could consider more comprehensive evidence when handling cases in Hong Kong.”
After Hong Kong announced the imposition of the state security law last year, Law arrived in Britain last July, declared himself in exile and severed ties with his family in Hong Kong. The Chinese government’s imposition of the national security law in Hong Kong has also been heavily criticized by Britain and other Western countries.
Reuters reports that the British government’s decision to grant Luo Guancong’s asylum application is likely to exacerbate tensions between London and Beijing. Following Beijing’s imposition of national security laws in Hong Kong, the U.K. changed its laws to give more than 5 million Hong Kong residents a way to live in the U.K. permanently and even obtain British citizenship.
Britain’s 10 Million Pound Plan to Help Hong Kong People
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that to further attract Hong Kong people to move to Britain, the British government pledged 43 million pounds ($59 million) on July to help Hong Kong people find jobs, homes and schools in Britain. Most of the money will be used by local governments to help newcomers with English language support and housing costs. The government will also launch 12 virtual regional offices to provide help with health care and school registration. These “reception centers” will also provide advice on immigration and starting a business in the UK.
This program will ensure that BNO passport holders and their families have the best possible start once they arrive in the UK,” said Robert Jenrick, Minister for Communities and Local Government, on July 7. We will provide support to help them find a home, find schools for their children, and find opportunity and prosperity on their behalf.”
Since the UK began promoting visa applications for BNO passport holders to come to the UK in January this year, some 27,000 people have applied for new visas as of March 19. In addition, Hong Kong people became the 5th largest foreign investor in central London as of last August, and the continued influx of Hong Kongers has driven up house prices in some popular areas outside the British capital. The British government estimates that more than 300,000 Hong Kong people could move to the UK in the next five years. The Bank of America estimates that the migration of Hong Kong residents to the U.K. could trigger a capital outflow of $36 billion in 2021.
Previously, the U.K. accused the Chinese Communist Party of repeatedly violating the Sino-British Joint Declaration. Britain says the Communist Party’s imposition of state security laws and disqualification of pro-democracy lawmakers in Hong Kong undermines Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy. Hong Kong and Beijing officials say the national security law is crucial to plugging gaps in national security defenses exposed by the 2019 “anti-China” demonstrations. The Chinese Communist Party has repeatedly told Western countries to stop interfering in Hong Kong affairs.
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