An exiled leader of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement has publicly stated that the UK government's planned overhaul of legal immigration routes risks failing those who fled its former colony. Nathan Law, a former Hong Kong politician who sought refuge in the UK in 2020 and currently has a bounty on his head, argues that the government must carefully consider its "moral obligations" when implementing a proposed increase in the standard qualifying period for permanent residence to a decade. This proposed change in asylum laws is creating "fresh anxiety and uncertainty" for many Hongkongers who were forced to leave their homes due to the recent political changes in the territory following the 1997 handover to China, reports The WP Times with reference to The Guardian.
Law emphasized that the current five-year wait time for "leave to remain" will not be altered for the main cohort of British National Overseas (BNO) status holders—those born before July 1, 1997, and their dependents. However, Law, who was born on mainland China, pointed out that there is still a "cohort of people without BNO status" who were compelled to leave due to political persecution, and he maintains that Britain's moral commitment must extend to all of them. He stated: “The commitment to Hong Kong is not just for those with BNO status. There is a wider commitment and moral obligation... I think that this obligation extends to those who are fleeing the political situation in Hong Kong as that is part of the history between Hong Kong and Britain.”
The stricter changes to asylum rules are part of a wider government initiative, described by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood as a plan to make Britain’s settlement rules "by far the most controlled and selective in Europe." An internal government debate is reportedly ongoing regarding whether these more restrictive requirements will apply only to future arrivals or also to those who are already residing in the UK. Law warned that if the waiting period is extended, it would "prolong the uncertainty in my life as well as the already mounting pressure from the Chinese government where they launch ferocious personal attacks." He stressed that achieving permanent residency and a British passport is "paramount for those who have fled political violence" as they seek a true "place of safety."
Law initially rose to prominence during the "umbrella movement" protests in 2014, which advocated for universal suffrage in Hong Kong. Following these demonstrations, he, along with Joshua Wong and Agnes Chow, co-founded the political party Demosisto. While Law won a seat, he and three other candidates were later disqualified. The trio became prominent voices during the 2019 protest movement and frequently faced arrest on accusations of seeking foreign influence. Law fled Hong Kong after being charged over an unauthorized assembly related to commemorating the Tiananmen Square massacre, despite pandemic gathering bans. He applied for asylum in the UK in 2021. Law said he believes permanent residency would offer him greater safety at home and while traveling abroad, especially since Hong Kong authorities are offering a reward of HK$1m (£100,581) for information leading to his capture. Last year, several individuals were charged with national security offenses for assisting Hong Kong intelligence, including spying on Law and other exiled activists. A Home Office spokesperson countered by stating: “We remain unwavering in our commitment to provide refuge and support to people from Hong Kong through dedicated immigration routes. No one who is found to be at risk of persecution or serious harm will be expected to return to Hong Kong.”
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