UK immigration plans may betray Hong Kong refugees

Exiled Hong Kong pro-democracy leader Nathan Law, according to the Guardian on 29th November 2025, has warned that recent proposals by the UK government to extend the residence-to-permanent-settlement qualification period from five to ten years could betray refugees from Hong Kong.

According to Law, the plan to impose stricter “good character” tests and expand grounds for visa refusal could unfairly target Hongkongers who were arrested during the 2019 pro-democracy protests. Many of these individuals never faced conviction, but their police records could still be used against them.

Critics argue that the new rules contradict earlier promises that Britain would provide a safe haven for Hongkongers fleeing political persecution. Human rights groups note that many refugees arrived with trauma, limited documentation, and ongoing threats from Hong Kong authorities, all being conditions that make meeting harsher immigration requirements significantly harder.

There are also concerns that more restrictive family reunion policies could split households and create long-term insecurity for refugees already rebuilding their lives. Law therefore urged the government to ensure that its immigration tightening does not turn vulnerable Hongkongers into collateral damage.