A possible delay to a path to residency for Honger Kongers who have fled to the UK has been slammed.
A proposed delay for Hong Kong residents seeking UK residency has faced backlash.
Since 2021, more Hongkongers have been moving to the UK after a National Security Law curtailed their democratic freedoms, igniting protests.
Once a British colony, Hong Kong became part of China in July 1997, but many have arrived in Reading and Wokingham through the British National Overseas (BNO) visa, allowing them to stay for 30 months or five years, with the option to apply for permanent residency afterward.
However, the government is now considering extending this five-year path to ten years, a move that has been condemned by councillor Andy NG Siu-hong from the Liberal Democrats.
At a Wokingham Borough Council meeting on September 25, he challenged the extension, stating: “Wokingham is home to a growing population from Hong Kong who value freedom and democracy, having suffered under repression.”
His motion argued that extending the BNO visa would create extra burdens for newcomers, including increased visa renewal costs and higher tuition fees for students classified as ‘overseas’.
Cllr Siu-hong emphasised that the BNO visa scheme reflects the UK’s moral obligation to Hongkongers fleeing oppression, stating, “If the scheme is tightened, it would abandon the UK’s commitment to those seeking refuge.”
The motion urged the government to maintain the current five-year residency path and relax eligibility criteria further. It was amended by Labour councillor Rachel Burgess to include support for additional language courses in the borough, and was unanimously approved with backing from councillor Nagi Nagella.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
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