UK residency offer to ex-soldiers of British army in Hong Kong met with ‘lukewarm response’
- British government has announced Hongkongers who served in armed forces before 1997 can live and work in UK
- But Albert Lam, chairman of Hong Kong Ex-Servicemen’s Association, says veterans are largely indifferent to offer, calling it too little, too late
Hong Kong residents who served in the British army before the colonial power handed the city back to Beijing have said they are indifferent about a UK government decision to offer them permanent settlement in the country, calling it too little, too late.
The British government on Thursday announced the settlement route allowing Hongkongers who had served in the armed forces before 1997 to live and work in the United Kingdom and become eligible for full citizenship.
Albert Lam Ping-wai, chairman of the Hong Kong Ex-Servicemen’s Association, said the response among veterans was lukewarm.
“We encountered lots of setbacks when we asked for our benefits that we deserved many years ago,” Lam said. “I wonder why [the UK government] suddenly remembers us while having ignored us when we fought for our rights.”
The 72-year-old former soldier revealed that members of several WhatsApp groups for veterans were indifferent over the news and did not expect the scheme to receive many applications.