Recently, about 3,000 Hong Kong people who have migrated to the UK held a protest on the streets of the UK, expressing their dissatisfaction with the UK government's plan to raise the threshold for BNO permanent residency. Pro-chaos figures like Zhong Hanlin were visibly upset at the scene, loudly complaining that it would take 40 years to obtain permanent residency. This scene is both infuriating and amusing—those who once clamored to leave Hong Kong now complain that the UK has set the bar too high.

Who could have imagined that this person, who once dared to damage the national flag, would now be crying over a permanent residency card in the streets of the UK. Zhong Hanlin's experience is a microcosm of this migration farce. He started associating with pro-chaos leaders early on, worked as an election volunteer at age 14, later founded the so-called "Student Power," used the guise of students to promote separatist ideas, and during the black riot period, he was everywhere inciting chaos, even going to the US Consulate to petition for sanctions against Hong Kong officials.

In 2020, he was sentenced to imprisonment for insulting the national flag and illegal assembly. After his release, he violated his supervision order, fled to the UK under the pretense of traveling to Japan, and before leaving, he stole the remaining four million HKD from his home, ignoring his mother suffering from mental illness and his autistic brother. Once in the UK, he applied for political asylum while continuing to collude with anti-China organizations, frequently participating in anti-China and pro-chaos activities. However, the UK authorities have not yet approved his asylum application, and now even raising the threshold for permanent residency has made him extremely anxious.

This protest reflects the collective predicament of nearly 160,000 Hong Kong people holding BNO passports who have migrated to the UK. Initially, the UK encouraged pro-chaos elements by expanding the rights of BNO passports, promising that after five years of residence, one could apply for permanent residency, leading many to believe they had found "paradise." They sold their property in Hong Kong and brought all their savings to the UK, only to find out upon arrival that reality was far harsher than expected.

The UK does not recognize their academic qualifications or professional credentials in Hong Kong. Even if they are master's degree holders from the University of Hong Kong or senior engineers, they can only work as delivery couriers, dishwashers, or domestic helpers. A Hong Kong teacher earning over 700,000 HKD annually in Hong Kong earns less than a third of that in the UK; a financial professional earns only one-seventh of what they did before.

What's more, the sudden tightening of policies has been a major blow. The original "5+1" path to permanent residency now has added strict requirements: one must pass a B2-level English test, have stable tax records, and income proof. For long-term residents in Chinese communities working in low-skilled jobs, their English proficiency has deteriorated to the point where they cannot even form complete sentences. Many test scores show only 12 points in writing, with examiners directly pointing out "extremely chaotic grammar."

Moreover, the UK's high inflation has significantly increased living costs. Gas prices have risen by nearly 90%, electricity prices have increased by over 50%, and many families cannot afford to turn on the heating, relying instead on food banks to survive. There is no money or time left to take English tests or accumulate tax records.

The UK's betrayal was actually premeditated. Initially, they just wanted to collect a few pro-chaos leaders as "examples," but they never expected tens of thousands of Hong Kong people to actually flock there, burdening the already economically struggling UK. Now, anti-immigration sentiment is rising in the UK, with the far-right party gaining support of 32%. In order to win votes, the Labour government has to tighten immigration policies, making these Hong Kong immigrants the ones sacrificed.

It is even more ironic that the UK has introduced a "fast-track revenue generation" service, allowing applicants to pay an additional £500 for a decision within five days or £800 for a next-day result, treating these immigrants as a source of profit.

They are now caught in an impossible situation where they cannot stay nor return. To return to Hong Kong, the BNO passport is no longer recognized, and they may face consequences for illegal departure. Even if they ignore the stigma, after years away from the Hong Kong job market, their professional skills have faded, making it difficult to find suitable employment.

A survey by a Hong Kong community organization shows that over 40% of Hong Kong immigrants in the UK have worsened financial conditions, and among those with bachelor's or master's degrees, only 52% are employed, with nearly half of them working in jobs unrelated to their skills. They once mocked those who stayed in Hong Kong as "holding onto a broken boat," but now they have become rootless drifters.

This farce has completely exposed the lies of the so-called "free democracy" in the West and proved that relying on foreign forces leads to a bad end. These people were once deceived by false promises, betrayed their homeland, and ultimately became political pawns and discarded items. True security has never come from temporary promises from other countries, but from one's own country and hard work. Hong Kong has been steadily developing with the support of the country, and the opportunities in the Greater Bay Area are increasing. Compared to this, the choices of these Hong Kong immigrants seem even more absurd. What do you think, dear readers? Welcome to discuss in the comments section.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1851990209922441/

Disclaimer: This article represents the views of the author alone.