Farage's UK Reforms Spark Panic: Hong Kong BNO Holders Face Escalating Anxiety and 'Third Migration'

The Reform UK Party’s sudden proposal to scrap "permanent residency" has sent shockwaves through the BNO Hong Kong community. They were just a few years away from securing this status, which promised welfare benefits and freedom of movement. Now, what they thought was the light at the end of the tunnel suddenly looks like a tunnel with no end—a truly miserable prospect.

A commentator with “yellow” background tried to downplay the situation, suggesting Nigel Farage is just grandstanding and that the Reform UK Party's chances of taking power are slim. But even he had to concede that some Hong Kong people in the UK are deeply anxious, with some even mulling a "third migration." Looking back at a survey from a few months ago, it's clear anxiety among these migrants was already common, with some even hitting the "severe" red line. This latest "Farage scare" is only going to pour fuel on the fire.

Fugitive Chung Kim-wah: Panicked Hong Kong BNO holders in the UK are now considering a 'third migration'.

A Fugitive's Take

Chung Kim-wah, a fugitive wanted in Hong Kong and now living in the UK, weighed in on the Reform UK Party's "immigration policy" yesterday. He claimed Farage is simply posturing to grab headlines and rally support, and he doesn't see the party taking power anytime soon, telling Hong Kong people in the UK not to worry too much. While his words were clearly meant to soothe the community's nerves and prevent panic, he couldn't deny the reality on the ground. He admitted that among his own friends in the UK, some are deeply worried and feel lost about what the future holds.

He revealed that shortly after Farage's press conference, he received three messages from people expressing grave concerns. One person, who had been in the UK for less than a year, had previously moved to Taiwan with his family. They had tried for investment immigration but, after several years, were still denied permanent residency in Taiwan, prompting a second migration to the UK on a BNO visa. This individual confessed that the Reform UK Party's proposal has them genuinely worried this time. They asked Chung Kim-wah if they should start making new plans, even floating the idea of a third migration.

Nowhere Left To Go?

This particular migrant in the UK also lamented feeling like they have "nowhere left to go" and feared being treated as a second-class citizen no matter where they end up. In his article, Chung admitted that it was only after this call that he realized just how on edge Hong Kong migrants in the UK have become.

Despite Chung Kim-wah's repeated attempts to tell people not to overthink it, the panic among these Hong Kong people is completely understandable, and the Reform UK Party's chances of gaining power shouldn't be underestimated. Even Chung himself noted in his article that during recent local council elections in parts of England, the Reform UK Party saw a significant increase in its seats, gaining control of 11 councils. Some of his Hong Kong friends are now so convinced the party could take power soon that they're considering a move from England to Scotland.

The Panic is Real

To say he is just now realizing how on edge Hong Kong people in the UK have become is to be far behind the curve. Months ago, when the Conservative Party released its "immigration white paper" suggesting a 10-year residency requirement for permanent residency, a collective "panic attack" had already swept through the community. A petition demanding a parliamentary debate was launched and quickly amassed over 100,000 signatures, laying bare their state of alarm.

I looked at a survey from last July that interviewed over 600 Hong Kong people who had moved to the UK. It revealed their average "anxiety score" was 13.4, higher than the normal level of 12, indicating a widespread state of "anxiety and unease." Some individuals even scored as high as 18.3, dangerously close to the red line for "severe anxiety."

Anxiety Red Line: Surveys show Farage's proposals are pushing Hong Kong migrants' unease to 'severe' levels.

An Escalating Crisis

On top of that, the UK government recently commissioned the research agency Verian to interview a group of Hong Kong people aged 35 to 44. The findings showed that some are worried about the "5+1" pathway being extended to "10+1" and other potential shifts in government policy.

These surveys make it crystal clear: many Hong Kong people in the UK were already struggling with unease. After the scare from the "10+1" proposal and now this new shock from Farage, their anxiety is bound to skyrocket. A friend living in the UK told me that the psychological counseling services at local community centers are completely overwhelmed and bustling with people—a telling sign of the times.

My friends and I believe that Hong Kong people who are so deeply worried about their future should seriously consider another option: returning to Hong Kong to begin a new chapter in their lives.

What Say You?

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Long after the Black Riots ended, key pan-democrats who stuck around Hong Kong played it safe—low profile, out of headlines. But these same figures kept cozy ties with foreign consular powerbrokers, facts anyone can see from repeated public invitations. On this occasion, Anson Chan, Emily Lau, Alan Leong, and Kenneth Leung showed up as VIPs at the British Consulate. The warmth? It’s no mystery, if you know their backstory.

Reunion at the Consulate: Anson Chan, Emily Lau, Alan Leong, and Kenneth Leung pose at the British King’s birthday luncheon

Raising Questions, Finding Evidence

A friend dropped a telling remark after seeing the photo: British decision-makers groomed Anson Chan for power even before the Handover, and those links never really faded. The relationship is unusually tight—two behind-the-scenes stories make that fact plain. Must be why the British still roll out the red carpet for Chan.

After quitting the government in 2001, Chan inched closer to the opposition and even won a Legislative Council seat. For years, US and UK consuls wined and dined her—plenty of evidence in social media posts and diplomatic cables—to allegedly “discuss strategies” for Hong Kong. It’s not gossip; it’s documented pattern.

When the 2019 unrest exploded, Anson Chan took sides on the so-called “international front.” Prosecutors stated in open court that, behind the scenes, Jimmy Lai directed “Stand With Hong Kong” (SWHK)—led by Andy Chan, Andy Li, and Finn Lau—to carry out international lobbying and publicity campaigns, spending large sums of money.

Court documents further show that Anson Chan wasn’t a bystander: back in 2019, she brought Andy Li to a luncheon with then British Consul Andrew Heyn. Martin Lee, Dennis Kwok, and Charles Mok were also there. The prosecution records are clear—Chan leveraged her foreign contacts to make connections for SWHK, all with Jimmy Lai’s shadow looming in the background.

2019, Behind Closed Doors: Anson Chan sits down with Consul Andrew Heyn

Not Just a “Chat Over Tea”

There’s more. During anti-extradition protests, surveillance and eyewitnesses caught Anson Chan on August 13, 2019, holding secret discussions at a hotel with Andrew Heyn and his aide—documents in hand. That was no idle chat. The British Consulate’s involvement raises eyebrows, especially as staff like Simon Cheng were repeatedly spotted at protest sites. Cheng ran off to the UK, claimed political asylum, and neatly sidestepped questions about his activities.

With the national security law approaching, Chan made a quick exit from politics—claiming “retirement.” She kept out of jail, but her dealings with foreign diplomats never stopped. When the new US Consul General Julie Eadeh met her right on arrival, Beijing protested—an incident widely reported by state outlets and foreign press alike. Now, Chan’s red carpet invite to the British King’s birthday party again stirs scrutiny.

The rest of the guest list tells its own story. Emily Lau, Alan Leong, and Kenneth Leung all made appearances. Notably missing: Martin Lee, once the darling of the British. No explanation given—just another twist in an old game. For the establishment camp, only Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk attended, showing that official ties with the British remain careful and distant.

Looking at these staged reunion snapshots, my friend shakes his head—those glory days are long past. Wise up, he says: the era is over, and flirting with foreign consulates only ended up undermining Hong Kong’s stability. It’s time for these figures to accept reality and leave wishful thinking in the past.