With the imposition of the national security law and subsequent relaxation of immigration rules in some Western countries to cater to anxious Hongkongers, I have seen some of my friends frantically research online and renew their British National (Overseas) passports. While many in my parents’ generation roll their eyes and voice their disbelief, I wholeheartedly support my friends’ decision to contemplate moving abroad. I was lucky to live in the UK for more than 12 years, receiving an excellent secondary and tertiary education. It was wonderful being able to live and study in a multicultural environment. Many of my peers’ main motivation in emigrating stems from idealistic beliefs that Western nations are generally peaceful, with unparalleled political and social freedoms. They expect that these freedoms, coupled with unwavering policy support , will provide a new journey away from so-called imminent tyranny in Hong Kong. Does British backlash await Hong Kong national security law migrants? But before they go, I also hope they understand that emigrating is not easy. My parents emigrated in the 1980s and faced challenges in their daily lives. They needed to adapt to the culture, and they encountered various forms of discrimination and struggled with mastering the language. Western societies are orderly and peaceful on the surface, but they have social problems of their own. The current political discourse shows polarising divides on issues such as immigration, multiculturalism, national identity and foreign policy, all of which put members of ethnic minority groups in a precarious position. Against the backdrop of the pandemic, my peers should also take the opportunity to compare the ways countries are handling the economic fallout. I believe the eye-opening experience will ultimately instil a different spirit and fuller understanding of the world. Then, perhaps, they will be more sympathetic to the city they used to call home. Henry Yau, Tai Po