‘Hundreds of thousands of people’ from Hong Kong might come to the UK after the Government offered an escape route to around three million people in the city to live here, said a former British consulate worker who alleged he was tortured in China.
Simon Cheng is the first person to have been granted political asylum by the Home Office in response to China’s crackdown on the Hong Kong anti-government movement after he was allegedly shackled, beaten, forced to stand for long hours in secret detention in the Chinese city of Shenzhen.
Mr Cheng, a British overseas national, announced Wednesday night that his immigration application had been approved last Friday by the British government, possibly heralding a new wave of immigrants from the former British colony, who wish to flee Beijing’s iron fist.
Simon Cheng (pictured) is the first person to have been granted political asylum by the Home Office in relation to China’s crackdown on the Hong Kong anti-government movement after he was allegedly shackled, beaten, forced to stand for long hours in secret detention in China
This file picture shows a pro-democracy demonstrator raises his British National Overseas (BNO) passports during a protest against new national security law in Hong Kong on June 1
The file picture taken on November 29, 2019 shows Hong Kong protesters wearing masks depicting Simon Cheng old banners as they attend a rally outside the British Consulate General in Hong Kong after he was allegedly tortured for long hours in Shenzhen, China
The pro-democracy activist, 29, today said that ‘hundreds of thousands of people’ from Hong Kong might follow his footsteps and choose to come to the UK.
The former consulate worker was detained in China for over two weeks last August after Beijing accused the former consulate worker of inciting unrest amid mass anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong.
Eunice Wong, a Hong Kong student who has just finished her Master’s degree in the UK, said she would be taking advantage of the Government’s ‘lifeboat’ offer because ‘this is the only option’ for her.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live today, she said that because she had interacted with foreign media, she would be deemed an offender of the security law by Hong Kong authorities and persecuted.
‘This lifeboat scheme will help these British Nationals and their dependents to come to the UK if they need to. BNOs are given the chance to work and contribute into society and work towards citizenship which was previously restricted with visas,’ Ms Wong told MailOnline.
But she also noted that it was hard to estimate how many people in Hong Kong would move to the UK through the route at present.
‘It depends on the details released from the Home Office [before we can make] such a big decision, as Hong Kong is where our roots are and leaving our home is a big change,’ she added.
‘Furthermore, there is no access to public funds so BNOs who come will have to be financially well off in order to support themselves and are able to come and get a job.
‘Some people who are eligible for a BNO might already have a different nationality, therefore, they might not want to come to the UK.’
Simon Cheng is the first person to have been granted political asylum by the Home Office in relation to China’s crackdown on the Hong Kong anti-government movement. Pictured, a pro-democracy activist is detained by riot police during a demonstration in Hong Kong on July 1
Thousands of Hong Kong citizens have already expressed their desire to move to Britain on social media platforms.
A Facebook group named the ‘Official Group for BNO Equality Movement’ has seen nearly 3,000 new members in the past month.
Numerous Hong Kong websites have published articles explaining the process of applying for a BNO, including one titled ‘Things you must know before immigration’.
As of February, there were nearly 350,000 BNO passport holders, while the Government estimates there are around 2.9million BNOs living in Hong Kong.
Police officers are seen in front of a water cannon during a march against the national security law at the anniversary of Hong Kong’s handover to China from Britain, in Hong Kong on July 1
Police officers detain protesters during a rally against a new national security law on the 23rd anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on July 1
Mr Cheng, a British overseas national, announced in a Facebook post Wednesday night that his immigration application had been approved last Friday by the British government.
The former consulate worker was detained in China for over two weeks last August after Beijing accused the former consulate worker of inciting unrest amid mass anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong.
He wrote: ‘The UK Home Office has granted me the eligibility for asylum. The Prime Minister’s Office and Foreign Office are also introducing immigration policies to protect the overseas British passport holders and their family members.
‘I sincerely thank the British government for fulfilling its moral obligations and showcasing political courage to rescue British citizens. [I] hope I can be the first (of many), and those Hong Kong citizens who have not been taken into account could seek protection,’ the pro-democracy supporter added.
British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured in the House of Commons on July 1) has offered three million British Nationals Overseas (BNO) passport holders to relocate to the UK after China imposed draconian new national security law in the Asian financial hub
Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons in London on July 1
It comes after British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has offered three million British Nationals Overseas (BNO) passport holders to relocate to the UK after China imposed draconian new national security law in the financial hub.
Mr Raab told MPs yesterday the ‘bespoke’ new arrangement to be implemented in the coming months would grant BNOs five years’ limited leave to remain in the UK with the ability to live and work.
They would then be eligible to apply for settled status and would be able to apply for citizenship after 12 months with that status.
However, the Foreign Secretary later said ‘only a proportion’ would be likely to take up the new status.
He also said that if Beijing tried to stop people with British National (Overseas) status from leaving Hong Kong, there would be little that could be done by the UK.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian (pictured) told reporters at a press conference today that ‘all the consequences shall be borne by the UK side’ after Britain drew up plans to offer residency to three million Hong Kongers
China today threatened to punish Britain for offering three million Hong Kongers an escape route from Beijing’s crackdown on dissent – warning at a press conference that the UK would ‘bear the consequences’.
Hours after Britain accused China of manoeuvring to ‘strangle’ Hong Kong’s freedoms with a ‘grave and deeply disturbing’ new security law, Beijing’s embassy in London called the offer a breach of international law and warned: ‘We firmly oppose this and reserve the right to take corresponding measures.’
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told reporters that ‘the UK should bear any consequences caused by this… Hong Kong matters are China’s domestic affairs, and no countries have any right to intervene.’