Find out all the latest news about welcoming Hong Kongers across the UK
Ministers joining Hong Kongers and welcomers to mark three years of BN(O) visa scheme
31st January 2024 marks the three-year anniversary since the UK Government opened a new visa route for British National Overseas (BN(O)) citizens in Hong Kong to move to the UK to live, work, and study. Since then, over 180,000 BN(O) visas have been issued. Government ministers Tom Tugenhadt and Felicity Buchan both addressed a 30 January London reception bringing together Hong Kongers and some of the many UK organisations that have been helping them to settle and integrate in the UK. The event, hosted by the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers (WC4HK), celebrated three years of the BN(O) visa scheme and also looked ahead to lunar new year celebrations in coming weeks.
“You are seen as a friend and they don’t care where you come from” - story of Wing
As our recent survey about BN(O) Hong Kongers reveals, almost all respondents (99%) said they intended to apply for settlement and also for British citizenship. Wing is probably one of them - just 2 years since they have arrived in the UK, Wing and his wife have already passed the resettlement (Life in UK) test. The friendly environment is an important factor to enable him to enjoy his new life in the UK.
Hong Kong migrants face challenges despite support - Survey shows need for proactive backing in settling and integration
New research published by British Future finds that this group of new arrivals is different in some respects from those who have come before, including from south Asia. At the same time, they are facing some of the same challenges.
New study finds Hong Kongers are here to stay in UK but need more support to make full contribution to economy
The most authoritative study to date of BN(O) Hong Kongers in the UK, covering issues including work, the cost of living, integration, belonging, language, location, future plans and the challenges that Hong Kongers are facing in the UK.
by Heather Rolfe and Thomas Benson
Event report: Labour Party Conference and Conservative Party Conference 2023
The work of Welcoming Hong Kongers is not only about Hong Kongers – it is also about how to create a more welcoming society for everyone new to this country. This year, we organised two panels with British Future to discuss this theme at the Labour and Conservative Party Conferences.
British Future and the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Krish Kandiah, OBE as Chair of the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers
British Future and the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers are delighted to announce the appointment of Dr Krish Kandiah, OBE as Chair of the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers.
Forum September 2023 (B): Collaboration with local authorities to support HKers activities
WC4HK serves to help coordinate the UK’s welcoming efforts across civil society, communities, business, education and government, and capacity and capability building for the welcoming groups. In the view of this, we surveyed the organisations engaged in welcoming Hong Kongers between July and August 2023 to understand more about priority issues, factors that enable and constrain effective welcoming, and the needs of organisations delivering welcoming work, and to enhance the understanding amongst the network, as well as for WC4HK to shape our future services.
Forum September 2023 (A): WC4HK’s stakeholder survey findings
WC4HK serves to help coordinate the UK’s welcoming efforts across civil society, communities, business, education and government, and capacity and capability building for the welcoming groups. In the view of this, we surveyed the organisations engaged in welcoming Hong Kongers between July and August 2023 to understand more about priority issues, factors that enable and constrain effective welcoming, and the needs of organisations delivering welcoming work, and to enhance the understanding amongst the network, as well as for WC4HK to shape our future services.
Football – an unnoticed connection between Hong Kongers and the UK
So for some Hong Kongers who moved to the UK after 2020 – even if many of us had little choice in this move and still miss Hong Kong – there was a certain level of excitement linked to coming to the UK. “I can watch the team I love every week!” While many later found that the tickets for some popular teams are extremely difficult to get, the matches are more accessible here and their love of football has helped them settle in the UK.
What is the Mid-Autumn Festival and how do Hong Kongers celebrate?
If you have friends from East or South East Asia, the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋節), or Moon festival, will probably be familiar to you. It is celebrated by many East/South East Asian countries, on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month – which means 29th September this year. The festival emerged from the celebration of the harvest with friends and families, while the family union is still a major element of celebrations too. So this makes it an especially important time for those living far away from their family and friends, as many of the UK’s BN(O) Hong Kongers are.
Report from the Welcoming Hong Kongers Annual Conference 2023
Minister Felicity Buchan of the Department for Levelling up, Housing and Communities offered her thanks to all those “helping to welcome our new friends and neighbours from Hong Kong” to the UK, and to Hong Kongers “for choosing to make Britain your home,” as they gathered at the Welcoming Hong Kongers Annual Conference in London.
How cultural exchanges start in a bubble tea shop - a Hongkonger couple’s story
Relocating to another country is a big decision: it’s not only about the differences in language and culture, but the need to start again building connections, support networks and career options. While some may try to find a job that reflects the expertise they gained back in Hong Kong, some may opt to start running their own business.
The ‘uncles’ dedicated to promote Hong Kong culture to everyone in the UK.
When I first heard about ‘Uncle E Bakery’, I imagined a friendly chap by the name of Eric, or maybe Ernie, kneading dough with his hands. However, as Kelvin and Andy of Uncle E explained to me, it’s actually a kind of Cantonese pun based on the old tale of Ah-Mau, a baker from Guangzhou.
Forum May 2023: Supporting Hong Kongers in setting up and running small business
A survey in 2021 reveals that more than 40% of the Hong Kong new arrivals are interested in setting up their own business in the UK. This group of potential entrepreneurs could bring a positive impact to the UK’s economy. It’s been more than 2 years since the BN(O) visa scheme first launched. Some of the Hong Kongers have already set up their business in the country. You may find them from catering to fashion industry, from traditional Tuina treaphy service to cement handicraft products.
Research update (June): Survey Data collection
This March, WC4HK held a third round of forums dedicated to issues in employment and education for Hong Kongers - and there are some powerful testimonials from the some participation on integration
Migrants’ own decisions are the missing piece in Scotland’s migration puzzle
Last Wednesday (7 June) the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers, which is housed within British Future, held an event in Edinburgh jointly with Reform Scotland on the country’s immigration challenges, here’s what have been discussed.
