UK offers clear route to British citizenship for 3mil+ Hong Kong citizens

[Cam77]

The UK government has effectively just offered virtual no strings right to remain/full British citizenship to 3 million HK citizens + spouses/dependent children (as far as I understand it).

Five years no strings leave to remain for those eligible for BNO passport+any dependents. I think the legislation hasn't been passed, but just a matter of time.

Given the historical closeness between HK and the UK and the current situation in HK, I would not be a bit surprised if, say, half a million Hong Kongers take up the offer of moving to the UK in the next year or two.

Have to admit I didn't expect that from the Tories. Just curious whether people support this move by the British government?

YABU = No
YANBU = Yes

There was a discussion on the Today programme about building a new city in Lincolnshire or Scotland to be the 2nd Hong Kong for the 3m citizens.
It'd have freeport status and not be subject to the usual planning permissions so could be high density with sky scrapers.
I think people are getting a bit carried away .

3 million may have the option to come to the UK, I wonder how many would actually take it up? Logistically, I wonder about how practical this would be and over how long a period. Social housing lists will only go up now with job losses over the next 6 months.

@Hearwego they have no recourse to public funds.

Hong Kong is just another city in the world's largest dictatorship now.

magicmarkerz

Why not? We havealwaysbeen clear that we support those ingenuineneed.

No you bloody haven't.

^^ British daughter of Commonwealth citizen who was affected by the Windrush fuck-up.

P.S. one of my best friends is an asylum seeker. Came here at age 10, went through school and college here and after all that, he had to defer university until his twenties before the Home Office finally confirmed he had Indefinite Leave to Remain and he could go to university.

@PerkingFaintly

We have always been clear that we support those in genuine need.

No you bloody haven't.

^^ Someone with Zimbabwean family.

Funny, innit.

But they are not offer to get citizenship "just like that".

What's happening is that UK is making it easier for people if Hong Kong to come. Instead of short visa, they will have long visa with less hassle. But the citizenship. You just don't get it "just like that". They will still have to follow rules and apply after 6 years as anyone else. It still costs crapload of money, time and it's a hassle. I also quite doubt that all 3 milion will come. UK is not the best long term destination imho at the moment...

Unless I missed something major, the gov is just making it easy to come here, nothing else.

And in approximately 50 years we will claim to have lost all of our records, say they have no right to be here, make sure they lose their jobs, and then send all of them and their children back....

It's quite funny seeing so many lefties who are saying they didn't expect this from the Tories. Why not? We have always been clear that we support those in genuine need.

Oh yes, silly me, all those destitute people who need those tax cuts and corporations who'd go bankrupt if they had to pay their taxes.

@Brefugee

I am a Tory and I completely support this. It is so exciting that the UK govt is able to do something so bold and so morally right.

This is the reality and the best part of Brexit. We can honour our duties to the ex-Commonwealth who we owe so much.

There is absolutely nothing at all that stopped them doing this in 1997 which is when they should have done it. Morally speaking. I wouldn't be surprised if they buggered off from HK to get away quickly, and then pushed off to Canada or Australia.

Correct.

For the Tories, Brexit isn’t about immigration. It’s about becoming a Singapore style economy with low tax, minimal public services, and everything privatised. They don’t care about immigration as long as it help them achieve this goal. Some of the people who voted for Brexit are racist knuckledraggers who only want Brexit because they don’t like Polish builders. They’re going to be furious about this. I think it’s hilarious 😂

I am very happy . I have a good friend over there and while she may not take this up, I am very relieved that she has the option .

However post covid and Brexit I am not sure that the UK will be an economically good bet for a long while. China is likely to do much better . It is a hard choice, possible poverty and fewer opportunities here versus polical opression and civil unrest over there . Not a wonderful choice really.

Further to my post above, anyone who thinks it was the EU preventing this, have a look at the Commonwealth Immigrant Act in 1962 and the 1971 Immigration Act. Both passed by Conservative governments, both made it harder for Hong Kong residents to come to the UK, both predate the UK joining the EEC.

Yes I support this move.

www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/02/china-could-prevent-hongkongers-moving-to-uk-says-dominic-raab

Looks like China does object and quite strongly

For anyone whose interested, this is interesting for a bit more in-depth as to what the mindset is in HK right now. 36% actually support the new bill, with 54% opposed or strongly opposed.

From the Western perspective one of the lost interesting findings is who is most to blame for the current state of affairs in Hong Kong.
39% blame the HKSAR government, 18% Beijing and 18% the pro democracy protestors.

This is an that seems almost entirely ignored by virtually all Western media, which by and large is very happy to just present all the strife as simply an “Anti Beijing” thing. It’s rather more complex than that, but as is always the case, any news from China must be viewed exclusively through its “the CCP is evil and is to blame for everything bad” filter.

www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests-poll-exclusive/exclusive-support-dips-for-hong-kong-democracy-protests-as-national-security-law-looms-poll-idUSKBN23W3KO

thanks for the info, Cam. Do you have any data on the attidude towards the British (since they decided close to the handover in '97 not to offer residency etc to those with British overseas passports?) and if that has changed?

I like efficient, dense cities and open, development-free countryside.

Not like the UK then. Inefficient, dense cities and a countryside being over-developed and also having its greenbelt gradually chipped away.

How you could ever suggest the UK has a development-free countryside is just bizarre.

@LellyMcKelly actually singapore doesn't have minimal public services. That's what brexiters misinterpret about Singapore. Singapore has subsidized housing for 85% of the population, subsidized healthcare, cheap public transport. I still pay health insurance in Singapore because I want a backup for the NHS. Its only about £50 per annum. And the healthcare is very good.

What singapore doesn't have is a welfare state. There isn't JSA or state pensions. Singaporeans save 20% of their income in a government fund for their retirement, housing and healthcare (for healthcare, 90% is paid by government). 60% don't pay tax. Its a very different system and impossible to implement in other countries really. The government earns money in other ways , through sale on land, taxes on cars (you can pay £30k for a certificate to own a car but you don't really need a car in Singapore), alcohol and cigarettes.

Singapore actually spends a lot on its people, but they just spend in a different way. There is more support for working families than there is in the UK, but zero support for those with disabilities, single parents and unemployed people. As a welfare system, the UK is obviously better as it covers more people. However for the average person, there isn't much difference between the UK and singapore system.

I am happy that this has been offered. We hung HK out to dry in 1997.

‘The UK literally does not have the capacity to house any more people, ‘

Same old anti immigration panic.
Should we stop having kids then? Or hope the pandemic frees up some space??
Lots of nationalities are leaving the U.K. because of Brexit So that should help.

Hopefully it will boost UK universities who rely heavily on the Chinese market

@happysunr1se My DH’s family history is the same as your DH’s. And his family over there have the same view too. British rule is not warmly remembered by those who experienced it.

@Brefugee
Sorry, I don't. I suspect British people are still popular enough. From my three short trips to Hong Kong I found that people didnt really display strong feelings toward Westerners either way. Its a very busy and business orientated city, most people are too busy to give strangers in public places any kind of strong reaction!