Find out all the latest news about welcoming Hong Kongers across the UK
“To me they are my family, I will do anything to help” - story of Hong, Candy and Marlene
Hong and his wife Candy left Hong Kong in the winter of 2021, travelling over 6,000 miles to start a new life in Northern Ireland. As their second Christmas here fast approaches they are enjoying taking part in lots of festive activities from wreath making to admiring the indoor trees and lights, something that is a rare sight back in Hong Kong.
Forum November 2022: Health care
The November forum looked into one of the essential needs in our daily life: health care. Not only it is important for Hong Kongers to acquire the necessary information and be able to access the health care service, but also attention should be paid on their mental health, especially some may find difficulties upon migration and adaptation to a new country.
In work and at school in the UK - findings from WC4HK’s recent network meetings on employment and education
With Hong Kongers gradually moving to the UK since January 2021, much yet remains to be found out about how Hong Kongers are finding work, and how well their children are integrating into the UK school system. WC4HK has set up Employment and Education Networks with stakeholders from organisations across the UK.
Wicky’s story - making friends with locals and supporting each other
When Wicky and his wife Esther arrived in the UK as ‘pioneers’ for their wider family to start a new life, they knew that being able to speak English and communicate with people would be vital for them to settle in. They also make friends with the locals at the community cafe they are volunteering.
Forum October 2022: Friendship and Buddying
Many welcoming groups have noticed the needs of the newly arrived Hong Kongers, and carried out some meaningful programmes to help them develop friendship and buddying. In the October forum, the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers (WC4HK) is honoured to have Michael Smith of Wales Strategic Migration Partnership to chair, and Kitty Ng from Colchester Life in the UK CIC and Nigel Paterson from Kings Community Church to share their experiences with our forum members.
Event report: Conservative Party Conference 2022
Report from our Conservative Party Conference fringe event, reflecting on the importance of public welcoming towards newcomers to the UK, and how welcoming policy can be co-ordinated to strengthen societal cohesion to the benefit of all.
We're Recruiting!
The Welcoming Committee are looking for three motivated individuals to join our team as we embark on the next stage of our project.
Report from the Welcoming Hong Kongers Annual Conference 2022
The first annual conference for those helping to welcome Hong Kongers, who have moved to the UK under the new British National (Overseas) visa scheme, took place in London this week.
The YouTubers helping explain Britain to new arrivals from Hong Kong
A new group of YouTube influencers are helping explain life in Britain to tens of thousands of Hong Kongers moving to Britain, according to new research published this week (4 July). Their videos are helping people make important life decisions on where to live, work and send their kids to school – as well as more fun topics like the best Chinese ready meals from UK supermarkets, as well as British customs, manners and places to go on holiday in the UK.
New research finds Hong Kongers feel welcomed in UK
A major new report published today finds that Hong Kongers coming to the UK on the new BN(O) visa scheme feel welcomed thanks to the solid foundations laid by the Welcoming programme – and examines how to build on this to ensure they can thrive in the UK.
Welcoming Hong Kongers Annual Conference 2022
The arrival of Hong Kongers could be one of the most important British migration stories of this decade – and an opportunity to reset how we think about making migration and integration work in the UK. The Welcoming Hong Kongers Annual Conference brings together those involved in welcoming to share insights from the first six months of the Welcome Programme and inform future work.
Janet’s story
Janet and her husband Hin arrived in the UK in August 2021. They came with mixed emotions: from excitement at the possibility of new adventures and regaining their freedom of speech to anxieties around their ability to speak English, education for their children and differences in cultural behaviours
Jubilee unites Hong Kongers and Brits over Afternoon tea
Newly arrived Hong Kongers and local people united over afternoon tea in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee today in Sutton’s Manor Park in Greater London. With both Hong Kongers and Brits loving their own version of a traditional afternoon tea, the 100 guests enjoyed a cup of English breakfast tea alongside Hong Kong ‘milk tea’ whilst getting to know each other over Victoria sponge cake and pineapple buns from Hong Kong.
MPs across politics urge end to penalising Hong Konger students with high fees
Hong Kong students living in the UK thanks to the new British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)) visa scheme are facing up to £22,831 a year more in university fees than their British counterparts, due to having to pay international student charges, according to new research from the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers. .
The right approach to Hong Kongers could help reset Britain’s approach to immigration
The arrival of the Hong Kongers may prove to be one of the most important British migration stories of the 2020s – and an opportunity to reset how we think about making migration and integration work in the UK.
Peggy’s Story
Peggy moved from Hong Kong with her husband and two young children to start a new life in Britain. Arriving in Reading in the middle of winter, the warm welcome Peggy has received from a local community café, now offering support to recent Hong Kong arrivals, has helped her to feel more at home.
Britons welcome Hong Kongers as figures show UK issues over 110,000 BN(O) visas
New government figures published today reveal that 113,742 Hong Kongers have been granted visas to the UK through the new British Nationals (Overseas) (BN(O)) scheme since it opened on 31 January 2021.
Hongkongers will enrich the UK – and we must make their transition as smooth as possible
The UK Government’s decision to allow Hong Kong residents to come to the UK looks set to create fresh starts for upwards of 300,000 people, if not more.
