Tong Chung: “Whether BNO holders or Hong Kong political refugees, we are one community.”
Over the past weekend, more than 3,000 Hongkongers once again rallied in London. While part of the march targeted the long-delayed decision over the construction of China’s so-called “super embassy,” many participants, some travelling long distances from cities across the UK, were also there to express concern about Britain’s newly proposed immigration rules, including higher English-language requirements and increased income thresholds.
Amid the crowd was a group whose struggles are often overlooked: Hong Kong asylum seekers. Unlike BNO migrants, they stand to face far greater uncertainty under the new policy framework. To highlight their situation, event organisers arranged for political refugees to carry the banner and lead the procession.
According to proposals announced by the UK Home Office, the BNO 5+1 pathway remains unchanged. But Hongkongers seeking asylum or protection could be required to wait up to 20 years before becoming eligible for settlement. The consultation document further notes that those who first entered the UK as visitors may face an additional 20-year ‘penalty’, potentially extending the total qualifying period to 40 years. During this time, their status must be renewed every 30 months, leaving them vulnerable to shifts in political conditions and the risk of removal.
Tong Chung, who was granted political asylum last year, addressed the crowd:
“I hope the UK government will uphold its historical responsibility, so neither BNO migrants nor Hong Kong political refugees have to live in fear.”
Despite securing refugee status, Chung said he, too, could be subjected to a 40-year settlement requirement, while many lesser-known asylum seekers face even greater insecurity. He criticised the UK’s introduction of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) last year, noting that no political prisoner with a sentence exceeding 12 months has since been able to enter the UK with a Hong Kong passport or obtain a BNO visa. Combined with the latest tightening measures, he said, this amounts to “a betrayal of the Hongkongers who sacrificed the most.”
Chung urged the public to pay attention to the plight of refugees:
“Wherever we are, Hongkongers are one body, sharing the same suffering. BNO migrants and political refugees are part of the same community.”
Despite the uncertainty ahead, Chung, like many refugees, has not stopped speaking out for Hong Kong.
He reminded supporters that many countries once suffering under white terror only achieved change through long-term public mobilisation:
“We never know which effort will shake a regime, but no matter how small the action, only through persistence do we stand a chance.”