United Kingdom has also launched £43 million fund to support Hong Kongers to move to U.K.
The United Kingdom (U.K.) has officially granted political asylum to the Hong Kong democracy activist – Nathan Law Kwun-chung who arrived in Britain in July 2020, after the Hong Kong police issued arrest warrant against him by for criticizing the National Security Law.
U.K. along with the United States (U.S.) believes that the controversial National Security Law has stripped the city of its autonomy and precious civil and social freedoms, while cementing Beijing’s authoritarian rule over the territory.
The new law criminalizes secession, subversion and collusion with foreign forces, and carries with it
a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Several people have been detained in Hong Kong ever
since the law came into force. A lot of prominent activists and politicians have already fled, while
others have begun quietly arranging to move overseas.
Law, a former student leader, has been very active in Hong Kong politics. He has been the Chairman of the Representative Council of the Lingnan University Students’ Union (LUSU), acting President of the LUSU, and Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Federation of Students (HKFS). He the Founding Member and Former Chairman of Demosistō, a new political party. On September 4, 2016, Law was elected to serve as a legislator for Hong Kong Island, making him the youngest lawmaker in the history of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.
Taking it to twitter, Law tweeted,
1. After several interviews in 4 months, the Home Office has informed me that my asylum application is approved. The fact that I am wanted under the National Security Law shows that I am exposed to severe political persecution and am unlikely to return to Hong Kong without risk.
— Nathan Law 羅冠聰 (@nathanlawkc) April 7, 2021
The Hong Kong police had ordered the arrest of Nathan Law for inciting secession and collusion. Law said the fact that he is wanted under the National Security Law shows that he is exposed to severe political persecution and is unlikely to return to Hong Kong without risk. The official political asylum granted to Law will rise the tension between China and U.K.
Separately, the U.K. has unveiled £43 million (U.S. $ 59 million) funds to support Hong Kongers emigrating to the country under a new scheme for holders of British National (Overseas) passports.
Under the scheme, hundreds of thousands of Hong Kongers are expected to move to the U.K., which provides a path to citizenship for 3 million people eligible for BN(O) status along with their estimated 2.3 million eligible dependants.
A statement from U.K. Home Office read, “Backed by over £43 million, the Hong Kong British Nationals (Overseas) Integration Programme will help status holders access housing, work and educational support to ensure they are able to quickly integrate and contribute to their newfound communities.”
The Home Secretary of U.K. – Priti Patel tweeted,
🇬🇧 We promised to uphold freedom for the people of Hong Kong, which is why I am proud that we've been able to support so many in need of our help.
— Priti Patel (@pritipatel) April 8, 2021
We're working hard to successfully resettle people here through this unprecedented and generous scheme.https://t.co/GB0dfCogPP
The BN(O) passport holders were granted a special status in the 1980s, but were not allowed to work or live in U.K. This changed in January 2021, when British Prime Minister – Boris Johnson announced to welcome 3 million Hong Kongers, in the light of New Security Bill launched by China.
In response, China had announced it will no longer recognize the British National (O) passport as a legal travel document. China has accused the U.K. of infringing upon China’s sovereignty, grossly interfering in Hong Kong affairs and seriously violating international law and basic norms governing international relations. China also stated that by inviting people of Hong Kong, the British wants to turn a large number of Hong Kong people into second-class British citizens.
