UK confirms ex-Hong Kong lawmaker Wu Chi-wai will not face deportation after immigration hiccups

The UK has announced that former Hong Kong lawmaker Wu Chi-wai will not face deportation despite immigration complications arising from his use of a British National Overseas (BNO) passport. Jo White, the UK Minister for Migration and Citizenship, wrote in a letter to former Hong Kong governor Chris Patten that the Home Office recognizes the need to assess each case involving a BNO passport independently.

Wu, who chaired the now-disbanded Democratic Party, was convicted under the Beijing-imposed national security law for allegedly conspiring to undermine state stability. He was sentenced to four years and five months in prison after being part of an unofficial pro-democracy legislative primary election in July 2020. Arriving in London in late July, Wu initially received only a seven-day immigration bail after ten hours of detention at Heathrow.

Following interventions by supporters and advocates, he was subsequently permitted to remain as a visitor for six months. While Wu initially intended to take up residency in Britain using the BNO route to reunite with his family, he later clarified to BBC Chinese that he was not seeking asylum in the UK. The introduction of the BNO settlement route by the UK in January 2021 followed Beijing's enactment of national security legislation in Hong Kong, which the UK deemed a violation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration.

Subsequently, China ceased recognizing BNO passports. White's letter to Patten confirmed that Wu was granted entry to the UK and will not be deported or removed, stating that caseworkers will consider any relevant evidence supporting claims of politically motivated actions or concerns surrounding convictions, including all court findings.

However, Hong Kong Watch, which serves as Wu's patron organization, expressed concern over the treatment of other Hong Kong political prisoners applying for the BNO scheme and urged White to urgently review their broader handling.