Hong Kong activist allowed to stay in UK after deportation threat
Wu was detained for hours at London's Heathrow Airport last week and refused entry, he told the BBC.
Wu Chi-wai, a prominent pro-democracy figure and former leader of the now-disbanded Democratic Party in Hong Kong, has been granted a six-month stay in the UK with his family, following an initial detention at the border.
Wu arrived at London's Heathrow Airport last Wednesday, where he was held for nearly 10 hours and initially denied entry, he informed BBC Chinese. He stated that he was subsequently told he could stay for only one week, after which he would be required to report to the airport for deportation. However, on Monday, the UK Border Force approved his entry, granting him a standard six-month stay.
The 63-year-old was a key figure in Hong Kong's suppressed pro-democracy movement and led the now-defunct Democratic Party. He is one of the "Hong Kong 47," a group of high-profile pro-democracy leaders who were imprisoned after a contentious national security trial. Wu was released in June after serving over five years in prison for subversion and other offenses.
Wu told BBC Chinese that his son and wife relocated to the UK in 2022 and 2023, respectively, and his only contact with them since then had been through monthly phone calls and letters. He had hoped to reunite with his family in the UK during his recent visit.
Before his departure, Wu consulted staff at the British Consulate General in Hong Kong regarding potential entry issues. "The information I received was that there would be none," he said, adding that consular staff assured him they would explain his criminal record and itinerary to the UK Border Force. He stated that the Border Force, however, did not consider him a "genuine visitor" solely visiting family. Wu denies media reports that he intended to apply for political asylum in the UK.
The rights group Hong Kong Watch, which had urged UK authorities to allow Wu to stay, welcomed the news. Megan Khoo, Hong Kong Watch's policy director, stated on Monday, "This is the right outcome, and it should never have taken this long. He should never have faced the prospect of removal back to the city that jailed him."
Wu used his British National (Overseas) (BNO) passport to enter the UK. This special travel document is issued to Hong Kong permanent residents who held it before July 1, 1997, when Hong Kong reverted to Chinese rule. BNO passport holders are typically permitted a visa-free stay of six months in the UK.
Since 2021, the UK government has offered a visa program for BNO passport holders, allowing them to work, study, and live in the UK, providing a path to citizenship after settling. This policy was introduced after widespread pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong were suppressed by authorities, leading to increased control from Beijing and the flight or imprisonment of many pro-democracy figures.
According to the UK government, over 230,000 Hong Kongers have been granted BNO visas, with nearly 170,000 having already moved to the UK.
The UK Home Office, which oversees the UK Border Force, informed BBC Chinese on Monday that it does not comment on individual cases but affirmed that "the UK government remains steadfast in its support for the Hong Kong community in the UK." A spokesperson for the HKSAR Government told BBC Chinese that it has not received any requests for assistance from Hong Kong residents to date.