Exclusive | Australia and UK receive 916 applications from Hongkongers seeking asylum over 5 years

Australia and Britain received a total of 916 applications from Hongkongers seeking asylum over the past five years with the number peaking right after the imposition of a national security law in the city in 2020, but approvals over the same period stood at 80, according to official data of the two countries.

The number of applications received by both countries have come down since mid-last year, dropping to a level before the social unrest of 2019, according to figures reviewed by the Post on Tuesday.

For Australia, the total stood at 584 from 2019 to April this year, while the United Kingdom received 332 applications from Hongkongers over roughly the same period.

During the same five-year period, the number of those who succeeded in getting asylum – though the date of their applications remains unknown – amounted to five for Australia and 75 for the UK.

According to the latest figures provided by Australia’s Home Affairs Department, a total of 584 onshore protection visa applications by Hongkongers were received from 2019 to April this year, with the monthly peak – 34 applications – being recorded in July 2020, a month after Beijing imposed the national security law.

The sweeping law was enacted following the months-long social unrest which rocked the city the year before, and prohibited acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces.