Hong-Kong Protests

henrik

Senior Member
Registered Member
Also because all of Hainan Island is now free-trade zone, and rents are much cheaper there than in HK. It shouldn't distract from the fact that Mainland tourists are still coming to HK; since the lifting of covid restrictions massive numbers of ML tourists can be seen all over HK, bus loads are getting off at North Point harbor (near my place) to take those buffet-dinner cruise rides.

How much are these buffet? Are they as good as the buffet at Ritz Carlton's Cafe 103 or JW Marriot in Hong Kong?
 

Strangelove

Colonel
Registered Member
How much are these buffet? Are they as good as the buffet at Ritz Carlton's Cafe 103 or JW Marriot in Hong Kong?

HK$390 for adults HK$190 for kids, definitely not Ritz or Marriot level, but still ok. The cruise ride does circles around the harbor... I last went on one in Sept 2021... which was free, paid for by those Guangdong patriotic associations. My pics:


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On the topic of Mainland visitors coming to HK, it would seem it's going back to pre-2019 levels; 2019 may not be forgotten by some ML folks, but largely forgiven. ML tourists are everywhere, up to a hundred to two hundred at a time at one location, from all places in China - it's easy to tell them apart, the young tendy dressed ones are typically from Shenzhen, Shanghai or other large cities, while older folks in baggy jackets & pants, chain smoking and part of a tour group, are from the villages or 3rd or 4th tier cities.

Hotel occupancy is now at 90% and will reach 95% to full capacity in the coming week (May 1st holiday). Some hotels are are charging 2x to 3x normal rates.
 

Strangelove

Colonel
Registered Member
Chinese tourists should be introduced on food adventure tours to the simpler cuisine of Hong Kong like its best wonton noodles, egg tarts, char siu bao, etc. Maybe its just me as I'm a sucker for those.

They don't need to be introduced, they're already going to simpler local HK/Guangdong cuisines & eateries by themselves. Many of those Wonton, 水餃 & 車仔 noodle places are already well known among Weibo & Douyin users.

In some unfortunate cases, the tourists are being ripped off, several cases have already hit the local news where a Shanghai woman ended up with a HK$6000 tab on seafood. The restaurant owners claimed she ordered "special & rare" prawns together with some "very special home-made" oyster sauce.
 

Strangelove

Colonel
Registered Member
Stuck in UK purgatory...

As we say in HK: 抵 L 死


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Pro-democracy Hongkongers stuck in limbo in U.K. as asylum applications await decision​

By
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4:46PM Fri May 12, 2023


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Picture for illustration purpose only.

12th May 2023 – (London) The U.K. government pledged to protect Hong Kong citizens following the Chinese government’s crackdown in 2020. However, The Guardian has found that many Hongkongers are uncertain of their status and are stuck in temporary accommodation while they wait for their asylum applications to be processed. As of December 2022, 160 Hongkongers were still waiting for their applications to be approved, more than twice the number from December 2020. Moreover, 13 individuals were either deported or left the U.K. voluntarily after being rejected for asylum in 2020 and 2021.



Exiled Hongkongers often view themselves as political refugees but hesitate to claim asylum as it is a last resort behind the BNO route or obtaining a job or student visa. Out of 184,916 total applications between 2020 and 2022, only 259 asylum applications were made by Hongkongers to the UK. Asylum seekers usually come to the U.K. because they have no other options.

Community groups have helped Hongkongers resettle in the U.K. since they started arriving in large numbers in 2020. Many asylum seekers and BNOs who lack immediate accommodation options end up in “safe houses” or with volunteer host families. While these arrangements can be a welcoming alternative to government-sponsored asylum accommodation, they can also be tense and prone to exploitation.

Several asylum seekers have reported being forced to cook and clean at community centres or safe houses in return for free accommodation. Some have also experienced “emotional blackmail” from certain hosts who shout at or physically abuse them. Asylum seekers from Hong Kong can find it difficult to provide evidence of political persecution, such as pictures of them at protests, because they have often left no trace of themselves online.

The refusal rate for BNO applicants has risen from 0.5% in Q1 2021 to 3% by the end of 2022. It is too early to say if these rejections will lead to asylum applications. However, if they do, new asylum seekers can expect to wait over six months for a decision, and the refusal rate for Hongkongers is around 15%.

Nathan Law, an exiled activist who was granted asylum in the U.K. in 2021, stressed that the experiences of BNOs and asylum seekers were “drastically different” and that the maltreatment of asylum seekers should be exposed and addressed.

The U.K. Home Office stated that the unprecedented Hong Kong BN(O) visa route reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to those Hongkongers who chose to retain their ties to the UK by obtaining British national (overseas) status at the time of Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997. The route is a British success story, with over 153,700 visas granted by the end of December 2022. In November 2022, the route was expanded to allow young Hongkongers born since 1st July 1997 to apply independently of their parents if they have at least one parent with British national (overseas) status.
 

emblem21

Major
Registered Member
Stuck in UK purgatory...

As we say in HK: 抵 L 死


Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Pro-democracy Hongkongers stuck in limbo in U.K. as asylum applications await decision​

By
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!
4:46PM Fri May 12, 2023


Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Picture for illustration purpose only.

12th May 2023 – (London) The U.K. government pledged to protect Hong Kong citizens following the Chinese government’s crackdown in 2020. However, The Guardian has found that many Hongkongers are uncertain of their status and are stuck in temporary accommodation while they wait for their asylum applications to be processed. As of December 2022, 160 Hongkongers were still waiting for their applications to be approved, more than twice the number from December 2020. Moreover, 13 individuals were either deported or left the U.K. voluntarily after being rejected for asylum in 2020 and 2021.



Exiled Hongkongers often view themselves as political refugees but hesitate to claim asylum as it is a last resort behind the BNO route or obtaining a job or student visa. Out of 184,916 total applications between 2020 and 2022, only 259 asylum applications were made by Hongkongers to the UK. Asylum seekers usually come to the U.K. because they have no other options.

Community groups have helped Hongkongers resettle in the U.K. since they started arriving in large numbers in 2020. Many asylum seekers and BNOs who lack immediate accommodation options end up in “safe houses” or with volunteer host families. While these arrangements can be a welcoming alternative to government-sponsored asylum accommodation, they can also be tense and prone to exploitation.

Several asylum seekers have reported being forced to cook and clean at community centres or safe houses in return for free accommodation. Some have also experienced “emotional blackmail” from certain hosts who shout at or physically abuse them. Asylum seekers from Hong Kong can find it difficult to provide evidence of political persecution, such as pictures of them at protests, because they have often left no trace of themselves online.

The refusal rate for BNO applicants has risen from 0.5% in Q1 2021 to 3% by the end of 2022. It is too early to say if these rejections will lead to asylum applications. However, if they do, new asylum seekers can expect to wait over six months for a decision, and the refusal rate for Hongkongers is around 15%.

Nathan Law, an exiled activist who was granted asylum in the U.K. in 2021, stressed that the experiences of BNOs and asylum seekers were “drastically different” and that the maltreatment of asylum seekers should be exposed and addressed.

The U.K. Home Office stated that the unprecedented Hong Kong BN(O) visa route reflects the UK’s historic and moral commitment to those Hongkongers who chose to retain their ties to the UK by obtaining British national (overseas) status at the time of Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997. The route is a British success story, with over 153,700 visas granted by the end of December 2022. In November 2022, the route was expanded to allow young Hongkongers born since 1st July 1997 to apply independently of their parents if they have at least one parent with British national (overseas) status.
Well Nathan Law can suck d!ng d!Ng and pound sand if he thinks his value is infinite and that he is indispensable because in reality his worth is tied to how long the UK can last as a fully functioning nation of which due to inflation and everything starting to fall apart, I am having my doubts. Not to mention right now, what value does he bring right now because eventually, money talks and given the possible negative value he provides to the up due to China having no incentive to help the UK due to its actions in HK and the support of this b!tch, well I can’t seem him lasting forever. Either the UK collapsing on his pretty little head gets to him or the UK sells him out to China for a paltry sum, his ending isn’t going to be pleasant
 

henrik

Senior Member
Registered Member
Well Nathan Law can suck d!ng d!Ng and pound sand if he thinks his value is infinite and that he is indispensable because in reality his worth is tied to how long the UK can last as a fully functioning nation of which due to inflation and everything starting to fall apart, I am having my doubts. Not to mention right now, what value does he bring right now because eventually, money talks and given the possible negative value he provides to the up due to China having no incentive to help the UK due to its actions in HK and the support of this b!tch, well I can’t seem him lasting forever. Either the UK collapsing on his pretty little head gets to him or the UK sells him out to China for a paltry sum, his ending isn’t going to be pleasant

How many of these HK rioters had immigrated to the UK, using various methods?
 

KYli

Brigadier
Around 150,000 Hong Kongers using BNO pathway have migranted to UK over the last 2 years. However, some of them have probably moved back to Hong Kong due to the fact that they couldn't get a job or living standards have deteriorated or run out money or couldn't cope with racism and changes.

However, there are another 100,000 Hong Kongers that moved to Australia, Canada and the US. Those people are probably less likely to return. In addition, many Hong Kongers have UK, Australia, Canada and the US passports. If these people choose to leave, it wouldn't show in the statistics.
 
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