The 20th Congress of the Communist Party of China was held on October 16. Hong Kong, a former British colony, is now the scene of repression by the Chinese regime. Many opponents of the regime emigrated to the United Kingdom.
From our correspondent in London,
Simon Cheng ran away two years ago. In 2019, he works for the British Consulate in Hong Kong. A bill that facilitates the extradition of dissidents has just been promulgated. This is too much. Demonstrations break out. Simon goes there, he is arrested by plainclothes police.
They deprived me of sleep. When I fell asleep, they sang the Chinese national anthem. They told me it would awaken my patriotism. I find it shocking to use our anthem as a tool of torture. He is released after two weeks and decides to leave his parents and sisters. The United Kingdom granted him refugee status. ” It’s a tough decision. Sometimes I miss home. I miss my parents. But I had no choice “, explains Simon Cheng.
The BNO visa, a specific right of residence
For safety reasons. He doesn’t hear from them anymore. He now lives in London. “ Hong Kong is totally unrecognizable. I was born there, I grew up there. My parents are still living through the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution. We never imagined that what is happening in China could reach Hong Kong “, continues Simon Cheng.
He now manages an association that helps Hong Kong refugees. Because to arrive in the United Kingdom, you must obtain the BNO visa. A right of residence which is specific to them which costs 4,000 euros. This system has existed for a year and allows many Hong Kongers to leave the authoritarian regime.
Carmen is one of them, she settles in a café in the heart of Westminster. This former city councilor arrived last year. A member of a pro-democracy movement, she was accused of violating national security law. She worries about the fate of her loved ones who remained there as the economic and political situation only worsens…
“ The future of Hong Kong really depends on the attitude of the Chinese Communist Party. Everything is uncertain. I would say that there is one year left to leave Hong Kong freely to the United Kingdom, but also Canada, Taiwan and Australia thinks Carmen.
123,000 Hong Kongers in the UK
These two BNO visa holders are just over 25 years old, but for those born after 1997, when the Chinese regime took power, it is more complicated. Damian Green is a Conservative MP for Kent. He has just passed an amendment facilitating access to visas for the youngest.
Many of those involved in the protests against the Communist regime’s repression were young people who could not take advantage of the visa. ” We want to give the people of Hong Kong as much hope as possible. It’s a tragedy what happened to this land “, says the deputy.
According to the latest figures from the Home Office, more than 123,000 Hong Kongers have moved to the UK in just over a year.