Hongkongers living in the UK will be eligible to vote in the upcoming general election for the first time, after a new group was formed to encourage them to vote.
Vote for Hong Kong was officially established in October to encourage Hongkongers holding a British National (Overseas) passport to vote in the coming UK general election.
Ian Ng, one of the organising committees of Vote 4 Hong Kong, said, “We want to sustain attention amongst UK politicians towards concerns of Hongkongers in the UK.
“Meanwhile, we want to facilitate a two-way understanding between Hongkongers and UK politicians by organising Hongkongers’ thoughts during the campaign.
“Last but not least, participation in local politics is a critical and essential way to adapt in the UK, and Vote for Hong Kong is a platform for those who want to engage in local politics.”
Before the UK’s handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, the UK government created the British National (Overseas) (BNO) nationality status, which was opened to people in Hong Kong through a registration process for those with British Dependent Territories citizenship.
BNO status holders are considered British Commonwealth citizens, and they can apply for a British National (Overseas) passport, but they didn’t have the right to live, study or work in the UK before 2021.
On 31 January 2021, the UK government introduced a new immigration route for British National (Overseas) status holders from Hong Kong, allowing them and their family members to live, work, study and have the right to vote in the UK.
Based on the national statistics from the Home Office, there have been 182,600 applications for the BN(O) route since its introduction in 2021 up to the end of June 2023.
Hong Kong Watch, a UK non-governmental organisation, estimates that around 140,000 Hong Kongers will have the right to vote at the next General Election.
Ng added: “Hongkongers left their home city because they believe in democracy and moved to a place having democracy. Voting is a way to practise what they believe.”
In Vote for Hong Kong campaigns, they collaborate with more than 20 Hongkongers partner organisations.
UK Policy Research, established in July, is one of the partner organisations.
Rick Hui, the founder of UK Policy Research, said: “It is an excellent opportunity to express Hongkongers’ voice to the UK politicians.
“We hadn’t made enough effort before as a minority in the UK. It is our responsibility to pressure the government. They won’t take it seriously if you don’t put any pressure on them.”
Founder of another partner organisation, Salford Hong Kong CIC, Manson Yiu, said: “To express your opinion is a way to adapt in a new place. Voting is a basic requirement to show your needs to the government. They won’t know if you don’t speak up.”
Yiu mentioned Hongkongers need help engaging in local politics.
“We lack knowledge in UK politics, and learning takes time.”
Joanne Wong, who moved to the UK in 2022 with her family and voted in the local council election in May, said: “I need to do lots of research before I vote because it is not my hometown.
“I have little knowledge about the political system. I will also vote in the coming general election, but before that, studying is essential to gain more information.”
Vote for Hong Kong provides civil education in the campaign to tackle this problem.
“Civil education is a stepping stone for Hongkongers. It is not only about knowing the right to vote, but we also encourage people to join a political party to align with their ideology and share their opinion on something they care about.”
According to a report from Hong Kong Watch, the impact brought by Hongkongers cannot be ignored as they can swing the seat of the upcoming general election.
Andy Carter MP from Conservative won the general election with 28187 votes in Warrington South in 2019. Faisal Rashid from Labour got 26,177 votes, with a 2010 vote difference.
Based on the report from Hong Kong Watch, more than 2,200 Hongkongers can vote in these areas in the coming general election, affecting the result.
Charlotte Nichols MP from Labour won the general election with 20611 votes in Warrington North in 2019; the second place was Wendy Maisey, who had 19102 votes.
The size of the Hong Kongers voting population is roughly the same as the incumbent’s margin of victory in 2019, according to Hong Kong Watch.
Sam Goodman, Hong Kong Watch’s Director of Policy and Advocacy, said: “All political parties in the UK should take note of this significant new cohort of voters from Hong Kong who have never before voted in a General Election.
“Voter registration is high among this cohort, and we urge all parties to listen to the needs of Hong Kongers in the UK and back these with clear policies.
“If parties at the next General Election offer a solid policy platform for new arrivals from Hong Kong, our research shows that their support could help the parties pick up key target seats across the UK.”