Needs of Hong Kongers

Find out about some of the particular needs that Hong Kong migrants may have

1 Before arriving in the UK

Preparation and difficulties

	Purchasing a house It takes at least six months to purchase a house in UK while it only takes one or two months to buy a house in Hong Kong. This tests the patience of Hong Kongers, who like things to happen more quickly.
	Renting a house Without a credit score in UK, Hong Kongers are not trusted by landlords. It’s therefore hard to rent a house even if Hong Kongers are willing to offer a year’s rental. The alternative of AirBnB is very costly and financially demanding.
	Selling a flat Property prices have dropped in Hong Kong, and there aren’t many buyers. The market is silent. It’s therefore quite difficult to sell the flat at a good price., particularly when needing to sell in a hurry. Other problems are caused if they don’t get a visa granted before they sell their property, leaving them with no home.
	Shipping belongings Even though flats are small in Hong Kong, Hong Kongers have furniture and sentimental items and need to decide whether to ship them or throw them away. Finding reliable shipping companies is a challenge.
	Finding schools Navigating the education system is a challenge as parents get used to a different system and try to find good schools for their children. When applying for schools some questions are difficult to answer.
	Learning to drive Public transport in Hong Kong is convenient, so most of the Hong Kongers do not drive even if they have a driving licence. So many will need to re-train or start learning to drive. Some of them will choose to learn before they leave Hong Kong because of the language barrier.
	Opening an international bank account Hong Kongers should open an international bank account to change and transfer currency and to make it easier for them to provide a deposit for properties. There are many people applying and the number of available banks is low, so it takes time to wait after applying.
	Understanding the tax policy and assets For the UK’s global tax policy, Hong Kongers have to work out the tax requirement on, for example, the profit in selling their flat, their investments or other incomes. Some of the Hong Kongers have large assets in Hong Kong or China which they will need to treat carefully.
	Applying for a visa and preparing documents Most of the Hong Kongers applying have a British National (Overseas) status (BNO) and can apply for the BNO Visa either in Hong Kong or in the UK. For the people applying in Hong Kong, they have to wait for the visa decision. The Home Office announced the decision time will be longer than 6 months. Some of the families who have bought the flight tickets already may have to re-arrange their flights. In some families, one of the parents will fly to the UK first to arrive in time for the new academic year, or where some family members’ visas have been granted already. For those who arrive in the UK with Leave Outside The Immigration Rules (LOTR) status and apply for their visa in the UK, it takes a longer time to get a visa. This affects their search for a job or starting work. Of course, there are a lot of documents which have to prepared and many questions have to be answered. It’s tiring to do it under high pressure and can be an emotional time.
	Finding correct information on the internet There are many YouTubers talking about immigration and life in the UK. They teach and give information. Some of them are really good and useful, but some are fake. Hong Kongers need to be careful to find out which is providing accurate information. For some, the video is the way to advertise their own business. For example, there are some helpful estate agents to help Hong Kongers find a house, but some are not reliable.

Emotional and spiritual wellbeing

A number of factors can contribute to an individual feeling a lack of wellbeing
Tiredness and frustration from figuring out accurate information and watching and reading a lot of media and information
Emotion from leaving home and families
Conflict with family members’ different points of view of leaving
Guilt in relation to elderly parents
Anxieties in finding a house and moving to a new country
Loneliness from leaving friends, family and support system
Worry from waiting and uncertainty
Hope for future and new opportunities