New study finds Hong Kongers are here to stay in UK but need more support to make full contribution to economy

(Wednesday 22 November) Most BN(O) Hong Kongers feel welcomed in Britain and 99% plan to stay permanently – but more support is needed for their skills and experience to fully benefit the UK economy, according to the most authoritative study to date of newly-arrived UK migrants from Hong Kong.

Hong Kongers who have come to the UK over the last two years under the new British Nationals (Overseas) visa are nearly twice as well educated as the average person in the UK, the new research finds. But at the moment only around half are employed, and many of those in employment are working in jobs that do not match their skills and qualifications.

Six in ten (59%) BN(O) Hong Kongers have a degree at graduate (36%) or postgraduate (23%) level, compared to 34% among the UK population as a whole. Yet currently only 52% of BN(O) Hong Kongers under 65 are employed, and 47% of those working said their job doesn’t match their skills and experience at all, or does so only a little.

From HK to UK: Hong Kongers’ new lives in Britain, a new report from the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers and British Future, draws on a new, randomised survey of 2,000 BN(O) Hong Kongers, making it the most authoritiative study of BN(O)s to date. It finds that a lack of confidence in spoken English, issues with Hong Kong qualifications being recognised in the UK and a lack of careers advice and support are all holding Hong Kongers back from realising their full potential and making the contribution that they could to the UK economy.

Despite the clear need for English tuition, only around 1 in 6 say they have attended an English class or received formal training to help with their English.

The new research also finds that almost all BN(O) Hong Kongers plan to stay in the UK and apply for settlement and British citizenship. Most feel very positive about the UK towns and cities where they have chosen to start new lives andthey are building new relationships with neighbours and colleagues: 90% say they have contact with local people who are not Hong Kongers.

However, some are finding life in the UK more difficult. More than four in ten BN(O) Hong Kongers said their financial health and wellbeing had worsened since arriving in the UK, with 53% saying that the high cost of living has had a negative impact on their financial wellbeing. Others have found it harder to settle and build new networks, with 1 in 8 saying that they feel isolated at work.

Heather Rolfe, Research Director of thinktank British Future and co-author of the report, said:

“Many Hong Kongers arriving in the UK are highly educated, often skilled professionals  – yet they are more likely to be unemployed or working in jobs below their skill level. The initial support they need – with English language, careers and employment advice – is often available but isn’t always being accessed.

“There is potential for Hong Kongers to be a great migration success story. People are keen to integrate and settle in Britain long-term. They can build good lives here and help to fill skills gaps and stimulate economic growth across the UK. We just need to ensure they can find the right help at the start of that journey.”

More than 120,000 people have moved to the UK from Hong Kong under the British Nationals (Overseas) visa, since it was set up in January 2021 after Hong Kong’s National Security law restricted its citizens’ democratic freedoms. Most projections expect around 300,000 Hong Kongers will come to live in Britain over the next few years.

 Kitty has lived in the UK for two years and now lives in Liverpool.  She spent over two decades working as a nurse in her birth city of Hong Kong.  Passionate about contributing to society, Kitty loves being a nurse and using her skills to help others but says the registration system here is tough and that she knows she needs to improve her English abilities before she is able to proficiently practise nursing.   She is currently doing an online OET course (Occupational English Test) for the medical profession in the hope that she can get back into nursing.

Wing and his wife chose Manchester over London as they knew it would be a lower cost of living and the research showed that schools would be good for their primary school age son. Wing and his family are determined to dive into British life and as their ability to communicate continues to grow so too, they hope, will their friendships and ties here.  They have already passed the resettlement (Life in the UK) test;  Wing is also a member of a Manchester Hong Konger football club, Konger FC, which is part of the local  football league.

Wing said: “The people here are friendly to everyone. You are seen as a friend and they don’t care where you come from. I send my child to the school and the parents of his classmates are friendly.”

Chan and her partner also chose to live in Manchester, as she felt the cost of living there would be  relatively lower and there are still plenty of jobs available.  But she has only been able to get a fixed-term contract job after 6 months of job hunting, with a salary lower than expected. The cost of living is higher than she had anticipated and she is worried if she is able to sustain her life in the UK.  

Chan said: “When I made up my mind to come to the UK, I never thought of earning the same salary as my last job, I was prepared to accept a cut.  But in my current job,the hourly rate is only slightly more than the minimum wage.  After paying the high utility bills, council tax, internet and other necessary expenses, I need to spend very carefully. I wanted to stay in the UK in the long run, but now I’m worried about meeting the financial requirements when I apply for  British National status.”

The Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers helps to coordinate the UK’s welcoming efforts across civil society, communities, business, education and government. It conducts research to inform policy and shares best practice around the integration of Hong Kongers. It also supports welcoming organisations working to help new arrivals from Hong Kong to settle and integrate in the UK.

The Welcoming Committee, housed at the charity British Future, is one of the national VCSE grant recipients for the Hong Kong BN(O) Welcome Programme, administered by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.