Hongkongers could decide UK’s future election results

HONG Kong citizens heading to Britain may change the UK’s electoral map.

Projections show that thousands of people escaping persecution could decide the outcome of at least 17 marginal seats at the next election.

Since January, 27,000 Hongkongers have applied to live here.

And the Home Office believes a total of 422,000 people, faced with the threat of jail if they show disloyalty to China, will apply by 2024. If their votes were distributed evenly, it could affect results in constituencies with majorities of 650 or less.

Labour MP Nadia Whittome, of the all-party Hong Kong group, wants more sanctions against Chinese officials.

She said: “The Government would do well to remember that hundreds of thousands of Hongkongers will vote in the next election and hold them to account for their failures.”