?????? A wave of Hong Kongers rush to leave the city ahead of a new Chinese law

As of 1 August 2021, a new Immigration Law is in effect in Hong Kong that gives authorities the power to ban anyone from entering and also from leaving the city.

This has stirred deep concern among members of the opposition and those groups less sympathetic to the Chinese regime. Because of this, and taking advantage of the opportunities that some countries are giving to Hong Kongers to settle in them, many opponents have decided to leave the city once and for all.

In the first two months since the UK granted British Overseas Citizenship status to Hong Kongers born before decolonization, more than 34,000 people have applied for their British passport, a passport that gives them the ability to move around the world and reside in the UK.?

In total, since the National Security Act came into force in June 2020, more than 110,000 Hong Kong citizens have emigrated from Hong Kong in net terms.?A departure process that may now be accelerated with the migration policy .

In practice, the new Immigration Law implies the creation of "black lists" by the authorities, who will arbitrarily have the ability to decide who enters and leaves the territory, even if they are citizens in their own right and without a criminal record or legal proceedings in progress. This means that, for example, people who have been recognized for participating in anti-government protests can be locked up in Hong Kong territory for as long as the authorities want, without any intervention by a judge or any legal process.

Why is this important?

The suspension in practice of the freedom of movement of Hong Kong citizens arbitrarily implies a new degree of control and also intimidation over the citizens of the former British colony.?

The Chinese and Hong Kong authorities, now fully on their knees before Beijing, continue to implement policies and laws that seek, above all, to muzzle dissent, or even directly encourage the flight of opponents from the territory. At the end of the day, out of sight, out of mind.