[Politics] Hong Kong

[Westdene Seagull]

Retributions? "If you dont do as I say, you won't get the absolute nothing you need us for!".

Well let's start with kicking Huawei out of the UK ?

 

[NooBHA]

The quicker Johnson grows some balls and starts to threaten China with some proper retribution the better.

Boris Johnson's Balls have caused enough problems in this world already , without starting a War as well

 

[vegster]

Hong Kong: UK makes citizenship offer to residents:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-53246899

I think this is utterly incredible ! Without going too deep I do feel that Hong Kong citizens are being genuinely oppressed by China and its slow strangulation of all the freedoms and rights set out in the original agreements when the UK ceded control. However, this is a British government that dragged its feet over accepting a few hundred Afghan translators and their closest family members, a couple of thousand Syrian orphans and countless others with genuine claims for asylum.

Today we offer a home to 3 Million people potentially at the drop of a hat when the last 5-10 years have seen us rip each other apart over immigration from Europe at a much much lower level. I do not oppose their wishes to come here( if they actually want to risk it here ) but this is a strange and incredible offer from a Tory government usually associated with the simplistic ethos Immigration = Bad . WTF has happened today ?

 

[Gwylan]

Well let's start with kicking Huawei out of the UK ?

That would mean shutting down huge chunks of the mobile network and would be hugely expensive to replace. Probably not the wisest course of action during a partial lockdown

 

[swindonseagull]

we are just weeks away from moving to hong kong from singapore. don't think for now much is going to change, but is obviously a concern. most are looking to transfer their desks to sg but a sneaky political game needs to be played behind the scenes first. looking forward to our move though, be more interesting than sterile singapore at least.

You will love it....I worked there for 4 years ( it was along time ago) but so easy to travel anywhere in Asia and also a great place to eat and have a few beers....Have dropped in consistently over the last few years when working in Manila.

 

[GREASED WEASEL]

It is a very high quality work force for us. Largely fluent in English, but also bi-lingual, highly educated, pro-British...

...but most importantly to this government this particular group of people would have the approval of most Tory voters, so can happen without affecting the Tory vote.

the only pro British people in the entire world

 

[Kuipers Supporters Club]

I don't have any hard facts on it but I have worked with Colleagues over he years who are from Hong Kong and they were the ones who pointed it out to me. Prior to that I assumed that most were ''Anti China''

So why in the most recent elections of 2019 did anti-China individuals win by a landslide?

 

[nicko31]

I think this is utterly incredible ! Without going too deep I do feel that Hong Kong citizens are being genuinely oppressed by China and its slow strangulation of all the freedoms and rights set out in the original agreements when the UK ceded control. However, this is a British government that dragged its feet over accepting a few hundred Afghan translators and their closest family members, a couple of thousand Syrian orphans and countless others with genuine claims for asylum.

Today we offer a home to 3 Million people potentially at the drop of a hat when the last 5-10 years have seen us rip each other apart over immigration from Europe at a much much lower level. I do not oppose their wishes to come here( if they actually want to risk it here ) but this is a strange and incredible offer from a Tory government usually associated with the simplistic ethos Immigration = Bad . WTF has happened today ?

2016, promises, promises. Its a brave new world...

 

[vegster]

It is a very high quality work force for us. Largely fluent in English, but also bi-lingual, highly educated, pro-British...

...but most importantly to this government this particular group of people would have the approval of most Tory voters, so can happen without affecting the Tory vote.

I would have no objection to them coming here, just incredibly surprised that this offer had been made given our current creaking NHS, lack of Infrastructure and shortage of housing.

 

[Springal]

That would mean shutting down huge chunks of the mobile network and would be hugely expensive to replace. Probably not the wisest course of action during a partial lockdown

And broadband networks [emoji849]

Government could pay them all to take it out - should only cost a couple of billion


This is timely - https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-53178998

 

[Swansman]

You shouldn't be surprised. Immigration is very good for the economy - especially when the immigrants are so highly educated and likely to find work.

A couple of key points in regards to how good this would be for our economy, assuming a significant proportion takes us up on this offer.

- The average Hong konger is nearly twice as wealthy as the average UK citizen, meaning they would bring economic boosting capital with them.
- They are near top of the world in the PISA charts - which means they are highly educated in english, maths and science - extremely welcome for our skilled labour pool.

A strong economy is obviously vital for the NHS, but also the other points you mention. It shouldn't be a concern at all, but rather the contrary.

Not disagreeing with you at all but holy shit what a project to build housing for 3 million people or so in just five years.

Media still seems pretty sleepy about this whole thing despite it being a massive thing for a bunch of reasons (geopolitics, global trade, international relations, immigration etc).

 

[portlock seagull]

You shouldn't be surprised. Immigration is very good for the economy - especially when the immigrants are so highly educated and likely to find work.

A couple of key points in regards to how good this would be for our economy, assuming a significant proportion takes us up on this offer.

- The average Hong konger is nearly twice as wealthy as the average UK citizen, meaning they would bring economic boosting capital with them.
- They are near top of the world in the PISA charts - which means they are highly educated in english, maths and science - extremely welcome for our skilled labour pool.

A strong economy is obviously vital for the NHS, but also the other points you mention. It shouldn't be a concern at all, but rather the contrary.

What if you’re part of that labour that isn’t highly skilled yet, or less talented, and won’t get an opportunity if it goes to an immigrant who can also buy a property as part of moving here? I’d much prefer a social disadvantaged person here have the opportunity or be skilled up. Not as if we’re going to have a shortage of labour in the next few months and years to come! As for strong economy being vital for the NHS, we have had one largely, for decades. Still a crisis! Have you not noticed how big corporates and individuals get round paying tax for example? Nope, a strong economy these days also signals exploitation, corruption and social costs beyond the pale.

 

[LamieRobertson]

I think this is utterly incredible ! Without going too deep I do feel that Hong Kong citizens are being genuinely oppressed by China and its slow strangulation of all the freedoms and rights set out in the original agreements when the UK ceded control. However, this is a British government that dragged its feet over accepting a few hundred Afghan translators and their closest family members, a couple of thousand Syrian orphans and countless others with genuine claims for asylum.

Today we offer a home to 3 Million people potentially at the drop of a hat when the last 5-10 years have seen us rip each other apart over immigration from Europe at a much much lower level. I do not oppose their wishes to come here( if they actually want to risk it here ) but this is a strange and incredible offer from a Tory government usually associated with the simplistic ethos Immigration = Bad . WTF has happened today ?

It’s a ploy to piss Nigel off big time

 

[Is it PotG?]

Not all your posts are dogshit. You can take that as a compliment.

Naturally, as a human being, praise is always welcome.

When it comes from such an esteemed source, it makes you feel kind of warm and fuzzy inside.

 

[portlock seagull]

We have serious skills shortage in the UK. It is not realistic to expect socially disadvantaged people here, with limited education, to fill these gaps - even with any amount of government support, it would take an incredible individual with profound determination to skill up to those levels. The only actual, realistic way to fill these vacancies now is through immigration.

Which part of the economy is missing 3 million skilled labourers? Where will they be housed? How will they get about? Where will their children be schooled? Which GP practices will they fit into? You see, the trouble with this government and all others is they promise much but deliver little I.e. the infrastructure to go with. You’d think by now we’d have learnt not to trust them. I’m therefore going to look after number one if you’ll excuse me because the knock on effects of Britain’s goodwill to all men (and women) policy appears to be ever increasing pollution, congestion etc and a multicultural society that’s, if you believe the news, actually more fractured along racial lines than ever before. I dare say some will fall foul of our laws and need putting up at HM’s pleasure, in which case, where in our overcrowded seriously underfunded broken MoJ system will they go? My point is that adding 3 million more foreigners (if that word‘s still allowed) on a whim is going to need some planning and Boris sure isn’t the man for that job. I couldn’t think of anyone worse to be honest. Now, if everything was in place or nearly I’d have no issue. Just as long as they don’t all follow Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Utd, which come to think of, they probably do and is another reason to consider this grand gesture properly.

 

[portlock seagull]

Hang on - you think 100% of the 3 million eligible Hong Kongers will take us up on the offer?

I would guess it would be more like 1-5%. You're worrying over nothing here, it won't even come close to making up the numbers of EU immigration.

Our government's lack of investment on the issues you're concerned about is a completely different debate. We need immigration from somewhere - there are few better candidates than Hong Kongers, if any at all.

I don’t in fairness. It’s just the headline I agree. However, don’t forget that our governments are notoriously shit when it comes to estimating immigration* Remember the 81k maximum from the much larger EU population. Wasn’t it more like 3 million, and a young 3 million at that who soon, well, multiplied! I don’t think you can so easily dismiss the supporting infrastructure as a completely different debate so easily. It’s very real, and very much part of the debate for probably, what, 52% of the voting population? Many of whom have some very real worries that you and I probably don’t fully understand but are rooted in successive governments failing or alienating them.

*and Covid, Brexit, Olympics, LHR expansion, HS2...pretty much everything really!

 

[jakarta]

Which part of the economy is missing 3 million skilled labourers?

I think it is clear you have never been to HK, their economy is not based on skilled labourers but very highly skilled and bloody hard working professionals. If it does happen I would guess they would soon spread out across the Democratic West where they would be welcome due to their skills, settle in and start making money for themselves and their new Countries.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Naturally, as a human being, praise is always welcome.

When it comes from such an esteemed source, it makes you feel kind of warm and fuzzy inside.

Always happy to oblige

 

[portlock seagull]

I think it is clear you have never been to HK, their economy is not based on skilled labourers but very highly skilled and bloody hard working professionals. If it does happen I would guess they would soon spread out across the Democratic West where they would be welcome due to their skills, settle in and start making money for themselves and their new Countries.

I haven’t been to HK.Ironically they had SARS when I had planned a trip and had to swerve; again, was asked recently to go visit a friend but guess what...! Third time lucky perhaps, though, I’m getting the message! I’ve generally no desire to visit any part of China in truth. Anyway, whether visited or not is arguably irrelevant because, whether skilled or ‘highly’ skilled, hard working or lazy, superhuman or just plain old normal human like we are here, it matters not in the general context of the point I made. But I’ll add that I think our obsession with the monetary value of everyone, and everything, and always playing it as the trump card is outdated and deeply flawed. Britain shouldnt be seen as some sort of global country club for VIPs and valets only. Least that’s not my vision and my big hope for us all post Covid is we don’t go back to the old ways. There’s a real chance to do things differently. Better for all. Not just some. But we digress. Today’s announcement appears rash at best, hypocrisy at worst.

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

This law is very welcome in my opinion. Hong Kong has been chaos for sometime now, and the protestors have gone way over the top. This has included creating bomb factories, setting people on fire/attacking those who voice different opinions.

Every country has national security laws and closing this loophole will hopefully repair the economy and allow HK to prosper once again. It will have little impact to law abiding citizens.

Interesting to hear from someone who's there - however your opinion is certainly not the same as my (Hongkonger) friends.

More news coming out from there today.....

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-53275405