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Hong Kongers in Britain Organize Support for Thousands of Newcomers

Marthe van der Wolf

   LONDON - While China was preparing to implement a new National Security
   Law in Hong Kong in the summer of 2020, Jennifer was planning to
   relocate her family to Britain.

   Hundreds of thousands of Hong Kongers are expected to move to the
   United Kingdom in the coming years, where they are eligible to apply
   for British citizenship. Many of the thousands of newly arrived are now
   organizing initiatives to support others planning their move to
   Britain.
   Like many others, Jennifer participated in the 2019 pro-democracy and
   anti-government demonstrations. But the law passed last summer has
   Jennifer and others worried their civil liberties could be undermined.
   The National Security Law would prevent and punish what it calls acts
   of "secession, subversion or terrorism activities" that threaten
   national security. The law would also allow Chinese national security
   organizations to set up agencies in Hong Kong. Critics say it
   effectively curtails protests and freedom of speech; China says it is
   needed to restore order and stability.
   Jennifer, who requested that her real name not be used, spent months
   online preparing to move her family:
   "When I came, I was quite well-prepared because I could have everything
   for me settled by myself, through a lot of hard work in Hong Kong. So,
   I did a lot of online research and approaching different organization
   and departments in the U.K. to arrange my place to live and arrange
   school for my child and arrange my account and all that. Most of the
   families, they come here for the children's future," Jennifer said.

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