Hong Kong activist gains British asylum
LONDON: Hong Kong democracy activist Nathan Law yesterday said he had been granted political asylum in Britain, where he arrived last July after Beijing imposed a sweeping security law on his home city that has been heavily criticised by the West.
The move raises tensions between London and Beijing as Britain opens its doors to potentially more than five million residents of Hong Kong in the wake of the contentious law.
‘‘After several interviews in four months, the Home Office has informed me that my asylum application is approved,’’ Law said on Twitter.
‘‘The fact that I am wanted under the national security law shows that I am exposed to severe political persecution and am unlikely to return to Hong Kong without risk.’’
Ramping up sweeteners to lure Hong Kong residents, Britain yesterday pledged £43 million ($NZ84 million) to help them find jobs, houses and schools under the initiative allowing millions to resettle.
Britain has accused China of multiple breaches of an agreement under which it handed the city back to China in 1997. It says China’s security law and moves to disqualify prodemocracy legislators have undermined the semiautonomous city’s high degree of autonomy.
Hong Kong and Beijing officials have said the law is vital to plug holes in national security defences exposed by months of often violent protests in 2019.
China has repeatedly told Western powers to stop meddling in Hong Kong’s affairs.
In response to a question on the granting of asylum, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said ‘‘the UK side should immediately correct its mistake and stop interfering in Hong Kong matters and China’s internal affairs’’.
The £43 million pledged yesterday is to provide ‘‘welcome hubs’’ to help people arriving from Hong Kong find jobs, houses and schools under an initiative allowing millions to resettle after China’s imposition of new security laws in the former British colony.
Since the visa scheme’s launch in January, about 27,000 people had applied for the new visa as of March 19.
The programme is open to 2.9 million people classed as British National (Overseas) — a special status that specifically relates to Hong Kong — and a further 2.3 million eligible dependants.