New research confirms Hong Kong arrivals are settling well in UK

Since the UK government launched the British National (Overseas) - BN(O) - visa scheme in January 2021, more than 113,000 visa applications have been accepted so far from Hong Kong British Nationals.

Research on their social integration into their new home was launched this week by the UK Welcome Hong Kongers Project of UK Welcomes Refugees and the Good Neighbours Church England. The title of the research is: 'Rise to the Challenges: Civic engagement and social integration of Hong Kongers in the UK.'

An online press conference on the report was held on Friday, 22 July.

Churches are involved in the welcome and integration of refugees from Hong Kong. The chair of UK Welcomes Refugees is Mark Wiggan, former CEO of Caritas in the Diocese of Salford. He has been in Caritas leadership for more than 25 years. A fellow trustee is Neil Jameson, a Quaker who was founder and Executive Director of Citizens UK from 1988 to 2018 and today helps faith groups and congregations to welcome refugees.

This study is the first of its kind, and 586 valid questionnaires were received from BN(O) Hong Kongers all over the UK. It looked beyond initial welcoming and explored the civic and community engagement of Hong Kongers now in the UK.

BN(O) Hong Kongers are motivated newcomers. Most of them are highly educated and are knowledgeable in their respective life worlds. Findings suggest that most of these Hong Kongers hold positive attitudes towards the UK and have active intention to integrate into British society. This is reflected by the high voters' registration rate, high turnout rate in local elections, and high intention to vote in future elections. "I value the ability to be able to vote in a free society and the UK is my home now," said one refugee. So, motivation for active engagement and social integration is found to be strong among BN(O) Hong Kongers in the UK. "You can shout at the government and not be arrested," was a revealing comment.

Yet, findings also indicate a paradox: high voting turnout and voting intention on the one hand, but low actual participation in community affairs on the other. Most rely heavily on friends back in Hong Kong. Although BN(O) Hong Kongers appear to have quite active interactions with their neighbours, they are still relying on friends and relatives in Hong Kong for confidence and financial help. In-depth local support networks are yet to be built. A vast majority of the respondents (93.9%) answered that they had online chats with friends after they came to live in the UK, but almost all of their online confidants (96.9%) were Hong Kongers. Only about one quarter (26.6%) have involved themselves in organisations in UK since they arrived, while the majority 72.7% have not done so.

The research finds that perceived trust of BN(O) Hong Kongers toward the government and community is strong, although younger refugees are more cautious.

The society also has to learn to receive Hong Kongers beyond the initial welcoming stage. Mutual learning between Hong Kongers and their British counterparts must be actively fostered.

While the British people generally extend their warm welcome and friendliness to Hong Kongers, the public should also be helped to appreciate that Hong Kongers also bring with them unique personal, economic and cultural strengths. Integration education - including language classes - should be provided not only to the newcomers, but also to the general public so as to foster a genuine multi-cultural community.

A panel at the end agreed that UK society needs to welcome and integrate all refugees from countries as diverse as Afghanistan, Syria and Eritrea. A church pastor from Bristol spoke of a weekly worship service which brings refugees together and seeks to develop links with the wider community long-term.

LINKS

UK Welcomes Hong Kongers Project of UK Welcomes Refugees: www.ukwelcomesrefugees.org

Good Neighbour Church England: www.englandgnc.wordpress.com