Paper short abstract:

Recent Hong Kongers ideologically see themselves as refugees, but don’t seek asylum under the UK government’s BN(O) visa Pathway, designating them so deserving of asylum that they bypass the asylum process. Simultaneously the UK’s push against ‘illegal migrants’ targets ‘boat people’ seeking asylum

Paper long abstract:

The recent wave of Hong Kongers emigrating to the UK are not refugees. Like Ukrainians, the UK government has designed a special resettlement pathway for them so that they bypass the asylum process. Created in 2021, admits the UK government’s campaign against ‘illegal’ migration of the ‘boat people,’ whom the government claimed sought asylum ‘illegally,’ as well as growing public suspicion towards refugees faking asylum claims for economic benefit or even to gain access in the UK for acts of terrorism, the Hong Kong BN(O) Pathway to resettlement creates a new category for Hong Kongers as ‘deserving’ asylum - so much so that they need not be refugees. My research looks at how Hong Kongers negotiate these conflicting notions of deservingness surrounding their situation, and doing their best to maintain a good impression with their new neighbors. While many see themselves as ‘cultural refugees,’ who had no option but to leave Hong Kong, they are hyper aware of their special legal status outside of asylum, and adamant that they do not be conflated with the ‘burdeness,’ ‘illegal,’ and potentially ‘dangerous’ asylum seekers. Hong Kongers highlight the fact that they are allowed to work, and had to pay thousands of pounds for their visas. Financial and social contribution to community and society, and not relying on government benefits as asylum seekers must, is the key difference Hong Kongers see between themselves and asylum seekers - not the reasons they had to flee. This exposes the UK government’s villainization ‘illegal’ asylum seekers.