Hundreds of Hongkongers who fled to the UK after the imposition of a national security law in 2020 are living in fear of deportation, with many stuck in temporary accommodation for years while awaiting decisions on their asylum claims. The Guardian has spoken to several individuals who describe their time in the UK as a 'disaster' due to the uncertainty.
One of them, Lawson, who arrived in March 2021 after participating in pro-democracy protests, is among 160 Hongkongers awaiting asylum decisions as of December 2022. The number has more than doubled since December 2020. Thirteen Hongkongers were deported or left voluntarily after being rejected for asylum in 2020 and 2021.
The UK government had promised to protect citizens of its former colony, with then-foreign secretary Dominic Raab stating in early 2021 that the UK would 'live up to its historic responsibility' to Hong Kong people. The British National (Overseas) visa scheme was launched, attracting over 100,000 applications within a year. However, this route is only open to those born before 1 July 1997, excluding many young protesters like Lawson.
Lawson, whose parents did not apply for BNO status, became an asylum seeker. He now lives in hotel accommodation, unsure if he will be deported or granted asylum. 'I just wanted to stay and escape the persecution,' he said, but added that his time in the UK has been 'a disaster'.
Another Hongkonger, Ivan Yim, arrived in London in November 2020 at age 18. He was denied entry after failing to answer basic questions about his travel plans but could not face returning to Hong Kong, where he feared arrest and torture. His case highlights the plight of those who have no alternative but to seek asylum.
Between 2020 and 2022, only 259 of the 184,916 asylum applications to the UK came from Hongkongers, as many see asylum as a last resort. The average wait for a decision is over a year, leaving many in prolonged uncertainty.
