Doors have been opening for residents of Hong Kong. In the wake of China’s new national security law, which went into effect in late June and was criticized as a sharp blow to rights and liberties in the semi-autonomous territory, several countries have announced efforts to accept Hong Kongers fleeing the restrictions.

The United Kingdom, Hong Kong’s former colonial power, was one of the first to make a formal offer, claiming that China had violated tenets of the joint declaration on the territory. Starting in January, the estimated 2.9 million Hong Kong residents with British Nationals (Overseas) status will be able to apply for a new program offering five-year visas and a path to citizenship. New arrivals will be able to bring their dependents and, unlike other immigrants, will not have to pass skills tests or meet minimum income thresholds.

Lawmakers in the United States, in the midst of strained relations with China, have suggested providing special access to asylum for Hong Kong residents fearing political persecution, and also speed up immigration for skilled Hong Kongers, though there has been no progress on either legislation. On July 14, President Trump issued an executive order reallocating refugee slots for Hong Kong residents as well as ending the special trading relationship with the territory.

Australia, which initially flirted with a new category of protection, is instead allowing Hong Kongers already in the country to stay for longer, and perhaps permanently. EU Member States have discussed easing visa and asylum access, but have yet to announce new pathways.

Nearby Taiwan, which does not have a formal refugee law, recently opened a special office to facilitate immigration requests from Hong Kongers, though Taipei has been anxious not to draw too much ire from mainland China. 

Indeed, Beijing has been critical of foreign “interference” and claimed that countries such as the United Kingdom would “bear all consequences” of their actions. The Global Times, which sometimes serves as a mouthpiece for the Chinese Communist Party, warned that Australia would have to swallow “a bitter pill” if it carried through with plans to provide a more permanent safe haven for Hong Kongers.

Yet it remains unclear how much movement out of the territory there will actually be, especially in the near term. The COVID-19 pandemic has severely limited global mobility, and many countries have all but banned new arrivals. Even countries that claim to want to make room for Hong Kong residents have virtually shut down their asylum systems during the pandemic.

There has been no overwhelming exodus in the few weeks since the national security law took effect. Whether or not they are eager to leave, Hong Kong residents are finding out that protection is easier promised than delivered.

Note: Readers will see on the left that we have added a new section to the newsletter, called Media Corner. We hope this will be a forum to highlight new books, movies, TV series, podcasts, and other cultural products related to international migration. If you know of something about migration around the world that merits attention, please get in touch.

Best regards,

Julian Hattem

Editor, Migration Information Source