HONG KONG (Reuters) – Hong Kong Democratic activist Nathan Law says he has been granted political asylum in Britain, where he arrived last July after Beijing imposed a national security law on his hometown. origin that has been much criticized by the West.
It is true that this measure will increase tensions between London and Beijing, as Britain opens its doors to more than five million Hong Kong residents as a result of contentious security legislation.
“After several interviews in four months, the Home Office has informed me that my asylum application is approved,” Law said on Twitter on Wednesday afternoon.
“The fact that they are looking for me under national security law shows that I am exposed to severe political persecution and that I am unlikely to return to Hong Kong without any risk.”
Britain on Thursday pledged £ 43 million ($ 59 million) to help them find jobs, homes and schools under the initiative that will allow millions of people to resettle.
Britain has accused China of several breaches of an agreement that saw the return of the semi-autonomous city to China in 1997. It says China’s security law and measures to disable pro-democracy lawmakers have undermined the Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy.
Hong Kong and Beijing officials have said the law is vital to plug holes in national security defenses exposed by months of often violent protests in 2019. China has repeatedly told Western powers to stop getting involved in the affairs. of Hong Kong.
Hong Kongers have become the fifth largest foreign investor in central London since last August and have raised prices in some popular districts outside the British capital.
London estimates that more than 300,000 Hong Kong residents could emigrate in the next five years and Bank of America expects Hong Kong residents moving to Britain to be able to trigger $ 36 billion in capital outflows by 2021.
Reports by Anne Marie Roantree; Edited by Stephen Coates