Scots call to welcome Hong Kong residents

Protester in Hong Kong

Scotland should welcome as many Hong Kong residents as possible after they were granted the right to move to the UK, the Scottish Conservatives have said.

Jackson Carlaw said the government should appeal to people fleeing from Hong Kong to make Scotland their new home.

It follows the UK Government announcing it was offering citizens in Hong Kong the right to settle in the UK and ultimately apply for citizenship after it accused China of a “clear and serious breach” of a key treaty with Britain. The Conservatives’ Holyrood leader said the Scottish Government should work on measures for “making Scotland attractive”, arguing it would give the country an economic boost.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Wednesday Beijing had violated the former British colony’s degree of autonomy by imposing a much-criticised national security law on the territory that is a breach of the Sino-british Joint Declaration.

Mr Carlaw said: “Making Scotland attractive for these Hong Kong residents would not only help them, but could boost our economy too at a time when Scotland unquestionably needs it.”

The Scottish Government said people coming to the country from Hong Kong would be welcomed.