British politics is taking a hard turn, and it spells trouble for Hong Kong people who’ve moved to the UK.
On September 22, Nigel Farage, leader of the far-right “Reform UK” party, dropped a bombshell immigration plan. He wants to scrap the existing permanent residency system, calling it “highly unfair.” Instead, he argues everyone should only get visas that need renewal every five years, with citizenship possible only after seven years of living in the UK.
The Reform Party’s Hardcore Immigration Plan
Farage’s proposal is brutal: to renew a visa, applicants must earn £60,000 annually — that’s a 44% hike from the current £42,000 threshold for skilled workers. No social welfare benefits, NHS users will pay hefty fees, and only those with advanced English language ability will qualify. Family reunifications? Strictly limited.
When a Guardian reporter asked if this hits Hong Kong BN(O) migrants on the “5+1” scheme, Farage didn’t hesitate. Hong Kong people are definitely caught in this net. He even coldly declared at the press conference, “None of them will get permanent residency—thank you.”
Europe's sweeping anti-immigrant mood isn’t sparing the UK. After Labour came to power, they already proposed extending the BN(O) “5+1” rule to “10+1,” though they’ve been vague if this targets Hong Kong BN(O) migrants specifically. But the Reform UK Party is very open and clear about its position.
This political shakeup means the worst is yet to come for Hong Kong people in the UK.
Parties Battle to Outdo Each Other on Immigration Control
Political parties know voters hate immigrants. Now, they’re racing to outdo each other with even tougher anti-immigration schemes. The Conservatives are on the back foot, blamed for the surge under Boris Johnson’s era. Farage slammed Johnson’s tenure as “the worst betrayal of democratic will in living memory.”
Under Johnson, the UK took in huge numbers of immigrants from Hong Kong, Ukraine, and Afghanistan. Farage wants to kick out these roughly 800,000 mostly young and low-skilled migrants. Having launched this aggressive anti-immigrant proposal, other UK parties are expected to follow with harsher policies — and Hong Kong BN(O) holders are squarely in the crosshairs.
Europe is seeing a far-right surge: Italy’s Giorgia Meloni leads with her Brothers of Italy party; Marine Le Pen’s National Rally topped France’s first-round parliamentary vote last year; Germany’s AfD grabbed nearly 20% in this year’s vote.
The UK no longer looks immune. A recent Economist poll shows Reform UK leading at 31%, ahead of Labour’s 21%, Conservatives’ 17%, and Lib Dems’ 13%.
Reform UK’s Meteoric Rise
In 2024’s election, Labour smashed it with 411 seats, Conservatives fell to 121, and Reform UK barely registered with 5 seats. Fast forward one year, and reformers are polling first.
This far-right tsunami started in the US and is crashing over the West with fierce anti-immigrant vibes. Barriers to residency and citizenship are just the start. Social hostility toward immigrants like Hong Kong people in the UK is bound to grow.
The message is clear: if the Reform UK takes power, Hong Kong BNO holders have a tough road ahead — best be prepared.
Lo Wing-hung
Bastille Commentary
** 博客文章文責自負,不代表本公司立場 **
Politics has always been a brutal arena, from ancient times to today.
On September 10, Utah Valley University became the scene of a shocking turn when 31-year-old Charlie Kirk—a leading MAGA influencer known for his razor-sharp rhetoric and his role in Trump’s “crush the left, defeat the woke” mission—was fatally shot during a campus speaking tour. As founder of Turning Point USA, Kirk ran multiple social platforms with over a million followers each, traveling colleges to pull young Americans back from the liberal left.
A Lecture Turns Deadly
It was 12:10 p.m. on September 10 when a single shot cracked through the plaza outside the Sorensen Student Center at the University of Utah. The debate, packed with around 3,000 attendees, saw Kirk seated beneath a white tent branded “Prove Me Wrong” as he debated with the audience.
Mid-debate, a voice asked, “How many transgender Americans have been tied to mass shootings in the past decade?” Kirk replied, “Too many.” Applause roared. Then came, “And how many mass shootings overall in the U.S. in that same period?” Kirk shot back, “Does that include gang violence?” No sooner had he spoken than the rifle’s crack shattered the exchange. Kirk collapsed as blood poured from his neck, dousing his white “Freedom” T-shirt in scarlet, and the crowd scattered in panic.
The Old Mauser’s Fatal Echo
The shooter fired from about 150 yards away, using a bolt-action Mauser .30-06 rifle positioned at the Losee Center across campus. That single round proved fatal. Mauser rifles date back to 1874, crafted by the German manufacturer Mauser. Despite their age, these rifles are common in the U.S. hunting market—and at $500 to $800, they remain surprisingly affordable.
Tom Chittum, former ATF (Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco, firearms and Explosives) deputy assistant director, pointed out that at 150 yards, gravity and wind are barely a factor—hitting a target at that range is within reach for anyone. He notes that non-combat trainees can pass a 350-yard shooting test after just a few days of training, making this shot well within an amateur marksman’s capability.
Yet the most telling detail is that the shooter ditched the rifle on site—an amateur’s careless slip or a pro’s deliberate ploy to leave behind false DNA and fake leads. Running off with a long gun in a crowd isn’t exactly rocket science, so abandoning it either points to inexperience or a calculated move to muddy the waters.
A Bullet with a Message
Whether this was the act of a lone political zealot or a hired gun, the message was unmistakable: the bullet itself was etched with “transgender and anti-fascist ideology.” Striking just after Kirk weighed in on gun rights, the assassin left no doubt—they were standing up for transgender rights and railing against fascism, directly challenging MAGA.
When Trump’s Hope Was Gunned Down
Charlie Kirk wasn’t just another voice on the right—he was MAGA’s front-line recruiter for young voters. Since 2012, his group Turning Point USA has pledged to “discover, educate, train and organize students” under banners of freedom, free markets, and limited government. Over 13 years, TPUSA has ballooned into America’s biggest conservative youth movement, boasting 850 campus chapters. Kirk’s eloquence and genuine faith in his cause set him apart from the plastic politicos like Defense Secretary Herges or DHS head Nome, who, let’s face it, lack real critical thinking.
When Trump was campaigning, Kirk was in Trump’s corner—mobilizing tens of thousands of young swing-state voters and even releasing a “professor watchlist” to name-and-shame academics pushing left-wing agendas. Ironically, this Utah talk marked the kickoff of Turning Point’s “America Rises Again” tour—and Kirk didn’t make it past the opener.
The Deep State Strikes Back
This attack wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment outburst—it was choreographed. Charlie Kirk, the shining hope of Trump’s next-gen conservative wave, was the target. In today’s hyper-radicalized U.S. politics, killings of public figures have graduated from amateur hacks like last December’s CEO assassin to full-blown professional hits. And brace yourself: even if they pin down a suspect, odds are they’re a sacrificial pawn—nobody really buys Lee Harvey Oswald as JFK’s solo gunman.
Make no mistake: America’s deep state has already circled the wagons, hellbent on crushing the Trump side that dared to move their cheese.
Lo Wing-hung
