Page 5 - aruba-today-20210201

A5
WORLD NEWS Monday 1 February 2021
Thousands flee Hong Kong for UK, fearing China crackdown

By ZEN SOO and SYLVIA HUI Lo said that with the new
Associated Press visa, the barrier to entry to
HONG KONG (AP) — Thou- move to the U.K. becomes
sands of Hong Kongers extremely low, with no lan-
have already made the guage or education qualifi-
sometimes painful decision cation requirements. British
to leave behind their home- National Overseas passport
town and move to Britain holders need to prove that
since Beijing imposed a they have enough money
strict national security law to support themselves for
on the Chinese territory last six months and prove that
summer. Their numbers are they are clear of tubercu-
expected to swell to the losis, according to the U.K.
hundreds of thousands. government.
Some are leaving because Currently, Lo assists three to
they fear punishment for four families a week in their
supporting the pro-democ- move to the U.K. About 60%
racy protests that swept of those are families with
the former British colony in young children, while the
2019. Others say China's remaining are young cou-
encroachment on their ples or young professionals.
way of life and civil liberties Cindy, a Hong Kong busi-
has become unbearable, nesswoman and the moth-
and they want to seek a er of two young children,
better future for their chil- In this July 7, 2019, file photo, thousands of protesters carrying the British flag march near the har- arrived in London last week.
dren abroad. Most say they bor of Hong Kong. In Hong Kong she had a
don't plan to ever go back. Associated Press comfortable lifestyle. She
The moves are expected owned several proper-
to accelerate now that 5 ment that Hong Kongers founder of Anlex Immigra- politically neutral. The po- ties with her husband and
million Hong Kongers are could apply for before the tion Consultants in Hong lice have been criticized by the business she ran was
eligible to apply for visas city was handed over to Kong. "Now we receive pro-democracy supporters going well. But she made
to Britain, allowing them to Chinese control in 1997 about 10 to 15 calls a day for brutality and the use of up her mind to leave it all
live, work and study there — have arrived since July asking about it." excessive violence. behind as she felt that the
and eventually apply to on the previously allowed Mike, a photojournalist, Mike said moving to Britain city's freedoms and liber-
become British citizens. Ap- six month visa. It estimates said he plans to apply for was important as he be- ties were eroding and she
plications for the British Na- that over 300,000 people the visa and move to Leeds lieved the education sys- wanted to ensure a good
tional Overseas visa official- will take up the offer of ex- with his wife and young tem in Hong Kong will be future for her kids.
ly opened Sunday, though tended residency rights in daughter in April. affected by the political Cindy, who spoke on the
many have already arrived the next five years. His motivation to leave situation and it will be bet- condition she only be iden-
on British soil to get a head "Before the announcement Hong Kong came after ter for his daughter to study tified by her first name out
start. of the BN(O) visa in July, the city's political situation in the U.K. Mike agreed to of concern of official re-
Britain's government said we didn't have many en- deteriorated following the speak on the condition taliation, said it was impor-
some 7,000 people with quiries about U.K. immigra- anti-government protests that he only be identified tant to move quickly as she
British National Overseas tion, maybe less than 10 a and he realized that the by his first name out of fear feared Beijing would soon
passports — a travel docu- month," said Andrew Lo, city's police force was not of official retaliation. move to halt the exodus.q

UK police arrest another 9 people at asylum seekers' camp

LONDON (AP) — Police in One of them, 31-year-old of poor conditions, and at
southeast England said Mohammed Ali, has been least 120 residents report-
Sunday that they have charged "with assault by edly tested positive for CO-
made a further nine arrests beating, using or threaten- VID-19 recently.
at a former army barracks, ing unlawful violence and On Sunday, Britain's Home
which has been used to criminal damage." He is Office, which overseas asy-
house hundreds of asylum- due to appear in court on lum applications, is facing
seekers and where a sus- Monday. allegations from migrant
pected arson attack took Police said no serious in- charity Care4Calais that
place. juries were reported as residents remaining at the
Kent Police said in a state- a result of the attack, barracks are living in "freez-
ment that 14 people have even though a "significant ing cold" conditions and
now been arrested fol- amount of damage was that 100 of them have CO-
lowing a "disturbance" on caused to one part of the VID-19 without a doctor on
Friday at the site in the site following a fire, which site. The charity also said A view of a burnt out accommodation block at Napier Bar-
coastal town of Folke- is believed to have been there was no hot water to racks in Folkestone, Kent, England following a fire at the site,
stone, which saw windows started deliberately." wash with or to make tea, Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021.
smashed and a building The fire broke out at the and that it's "essential" that Associated Press
set alight. site, where around 400 appropriate care is provid-
Five men previously arrest- people have been stay- ed. The Home Office said the barracks are "safe and the site for a time follow-
ed in connection with the ing. The barracks has been the department is follow- secure." It also said that ing the fire, but it has now
unrest remain in custody. dogged by accusations ing all guidelines and that power was lost to much of been mostly restored.q