Hong Kongers can apply for British citizenship but why can’t people from other former colonies?

[SangasCoverDrive]

So UK government announced that Hong Kongers an apply for British nationality even if they have never stepped a foot in the UK before after HK comes under Chinese rule again. Why not do the same thing with people from other former colonies like Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Zimbabwe etc? After all those are the poorer countries and people there deserve a better shot at life than Hong Kongers who are already rich?

 

[Giannis]

There are political motives behind this decision.

 

[SangasCoverDrive]

There are political motives behind this decision.

What are the political motives?

 

[saeedhk]

So UK government announced that Hong Kongers an apply for British nationality even if they have never stepped a foot in the UK before after HK comes under Chinese rule again. Why not do the same thing with people from other former colonies like Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Zimbabwe etc? After all those are the poorer countries and people there deserve a better shot at life than Hong Kongers who are already rich?

Because people from the third world would be a massive burden on the UK in terms of employment and economy . On the other hand, Hong Kongers are very educated and they would contribute to the economy and bring a lot of value with them. This is one of the reasons of allowing Hong Kongers a pathway to UK citizenship.

 

[Giannis]

Because people from the third world would be a massive burden on the UK in terms of employment and economy . On the other hand, Hong Kongers are very educated and they would contribute to the economy and bring a lot of value with them. This is one of the reasons of allowing Hong Kongers a pathway to UK citizenship.

Lol in the west, hong kongers are seen no differently than people from third world countries. California & Vancouver are full of immigrants from Hong Kong and they're not any more or less sueccessful than south Asian immigrants.

 

[saeedhk]

Lol in the west, hong kongers are seen no differently than people from third world countries. California & Vancouver are full of immigrants from Hong Kong and they're not any more or less sueccessful than south Asian immigrants.

Those immigrants probably went to the US in the 1960s. The average HK nowadays is very educated; most have tertiary education.

 

[guna]

Because people from the third world would be a massive burden on the UK in terms of employment and economy . On the other hand, Hong Kongers are very educated and they would contribute to the economy and bring a lot of value with them. This is one of the reasons of allowing Hong Kongers a pathway to UK citizenship.

Very well put. No country wants leaches and freeloaders. Hongkong people are educated and are going to contribute to the economy unlike the countries the OP mentioned.

 

[Giannis]

Those immigrants probably went to the US in the 1960s. The average HK nowadays is very educated; most have tertiary education.

No we get a lot of new immigrants from Hong Kong all the time, they're not superior to other immigrant groups in any way. Up in Canada they're known for buying out houses on cash and driving up the real estate market. I don't think you've ever been to North America but the perception of east asians isn't what you think lol.

 

[Giannis]

Very well put. No country wants leaches and freeloaders. Hongkong people are educated and are going to contribute to the economy unlike the countries the OP mentioned.

Getting citizenship of another country as a foreign national without even working for it or putting in the hard yards is the best example of freeloading. BoJo is just handing out British citizenship to people that have never set foot in England in their whole lives.

 

[saeedhk]

No we get a lot of new immigrants from Hong Kong all the time, they're not superior to other immigrant groups in any way. Up in Canada they're known for buying out houses on cash and driving up the real estate market. I don't think you've ever been to North America but the perception of east asians isn't what you think lol.

Are you sure? Pakistani and HKers the same in terms of education and socio-economic status?

 

[globalcitizen]

I don't think the people from countries you have mentioned are oppressed in their own land in current situation
I still don't want them to be given citizenship status but giving asylum is still right thing to do after what they went through

 

[Giannis]

Are you sure? Pakistani and HKers the same in terms of education and socio-economic status?

In America, we're ahead of them.

 

[James]

What are the political motives?

The first thing to mention is time. HK was one of the very last remnants of the British Empire to be given up (1997), whereas most of their other overseas territories and colonies were lost 50+ years ago. British law, politics, culture and language still have a strong influence within Hong Kong.

More pertinent though in the current climate is UK/Western government policy, which stands in robust opposition to China.

The UK with its passport offer (and by geopolitical extension the US, who have an ongoing trade war with the Chinese) are looking to embarrass and undermine China on humanitarian grounds for their alleged maltreatment of HK citizens & residents, which they feel would make the Chinese government and CCP more uncomfortable on the international stage.

So the door being opened to Hong Kong immigration into the UK is less of the altruistic move that our government would like it to be appear to be, and goes down as potentially quite a cynical political decision.

People used as pawns. As they so often are.

 

[OMB]

In America, we're ahead of them.

I have heard a lot different about USA

 

[Tubs]

One reason is probably to stick up a middle finger to China. Doesn't to much, though, mainly just posturing.

HK citizens are also really well educated and speak reasonable English. They're also quite a moral society, and will integrate well here.

 

[irfan]

no not all HKers can apply , only those with British Overseas Citizenship - this will include some desis.

 

[gani999]

Lol in the west, hong kongers are seen no differently than people from third world countries. California & Vancouver are full of immigrants from Hong Kong and they're not any more or less sueccessful than south Asian immigrants.

True but you have to consider the numbers involved. Even if the whole of Hong Kong migrated to the UK, it's population may not change much. If Indians and Pakistanis are allowed to get UK citizenship and migrate, there won't be enough place on the island for people even to stand straight.

 

[TSA321]

I have heard a lot different about USA

I'm assuming most HK'ers would come under Chinese American? Looks like Pakistani Americans are ahead of them.

 

[Giannis]

I have heard a lot different about USA

Different about what? I've never heard anyone deny the success of the Pakistani-American community.

 

[KingKhanWC]

Purely political. Trying to paint China as an evil regime.

Britain doesnt care about Hong Kongers, to most they are just chinese people.

UK doesnt need immigrants Hong Kong unless they are nurses or doctors.

Someone claims its because they are smart and educated lol. If this was the reason, UK would adopt the Aussie system and bring people from all over the world for the needs of the country.

China will be glad if they all left but it wont happen. No more than a 100k will come over.

 

[James]

I think we do sort of have an Aussie-style immigration system now. (Since leaving the EU) — but it’s only been in since 1st January, so much too early to see any of the effects yet. Will take a few years.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Because people from the third world would be a massive burden on the UK in terms of employment and economy . On the other hand, Hong Kongers are very educated and they would contribute to the economy and bring a lot of value with them. This is one of the reasons of allowing Hong Kongers a pathway to UK citizenship.

Think I'd rather have the less educated third worlders back, we have enough people with degrees already in Britain, what we desperately need right now are nurses, lorry drivers and hospitality staff.

 

[ElRaja]

chinese people in the uk have very different attainment patterns to chinese people in america it seems. in the uk i think chinese kids have the best gcse attainment levels, significantly higher than other groups, and in uni the hard sciences were full of uk and foreign chinese kids.

also beside whats been said, hong kongers are wealthy, and it would only be logical to assume that those with the most to lose would definitely want to move some of their wealth to the uk, and being citizens would make it easier to do so.

 

[TSA321]

chinese people in the uk have very different attainment patterns to chinese people in america it seems. in the uk i think chinese kids have the best gcse attainment levels, significantly higher than other groups, and in uni the hard sciences were full of uk and foreign chinese kids.

They do very well in the US as well, not sure why you think they don’t?

 

[finalfantasy7]

Because people from the third world would be a massive burden on the UK in terms of employment and economy . On the other hand, Hong Kongers are very educated and they would contribute to the economy and bring a lot of value with them. This is one of the reasons of allowing Hong Kongers a pathway to UK citizenship.

wheres your proof?

 

[ElRaja]

They do very well in the US as well, not sure why you think they don’t?

someone in the topic earlier wrote that hong kongers and east asians are seen as no different to immigrants from other third world countries, i assumed they must not be doing so well in that case.

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

After all those are the poorer countries and people there deserve a better shot at life than Hong Kongers who are already rich?

The poor people in those countries are not entitled to a "better shot at life".

 

[mazkhan]

And why would Hong kongers wanna leave hong Kong for boris's uk which is fast becoming a social and economic cesspit .

 

[PetroDollars]

Because HK isnt bad, plus its small and a few number of people who take the UK citizenship, if pakistan were given such citizenship, the whole country would move here, making UK over crowed and they would outnumber the english. The UK would basically become another province of pakistan.

However they do need to do more considering they colonised and looted the country, more citizenships for educated pakistanis who would contribute to the economy rather then work in kebab shops on below min wages.

 

[James]

Think I'd rather have the less educated third worlders back, we have enough people with degrees already in Britain, what we desperately need right now are nurses, lorry drivers and hospitality staff.

Nurses need degrees too. But I see your point. Our service and haulage industries are on their knees.