Hong Kong was a colony of the United Kingdom for 153 years until it was transferred to China in 1997. Hong Kongers could apply for British National (Overseas) passports before 1997 and they were granted British National (Overseas) nationality.
There was a wave of mass migrations from Hong Kong in 1997. According to the
BBC news in January of 2021, following the implementation of a new security law on 1 July 2020, a second wave of mass migration is happening. Several nations, including the United Kingdom, have moved to reconfigure their immigration policy, or grant refugee status to those leaving Hong Kong. The Home Office estimated nearly 300,000 Hong Kongers who have British National (Overseas) nationality, and their dependents, will take up the new visa route over the next five years.
The Baptist Union is aware that a huge number of Hong Kong families will be moving to make their new home in the UK and is liaising with Baptist churches in welcoming and offering hospitality to Hong Kong migrants. We want to help Baptist churches to know more about Hong Kongers and offer practical support for churches.
Sharon Shek was appointed to the role of
Hong Kong Response Coordinator, and is responsible for:
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liaising with church leaders seeking to leave Hong Kong, connecting them with local Baptist congregations;
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encouraging Baptist churches to be places of welcome for migrants from Hong Kong;
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enabling training and networking, and helping Baptists discern God’s missional activity in the midst of the migrants.
Click here to
contact our Hong Kong Response Coordinator.