Hongkongers stuck in Britain are eager to return, but months being stranded have already taken mental, financial toll
- The government on Monday announced Hong Kong would lift a travel ban for residents stuck in Britain, but months of separation have been tough for some
- Others, meanwhile, have already spent thousands on flights and hotels to circumvent the ban in their desperation to get back to the city
More than 600 Hong Kong residents stranded in Britain by a December flight ban are hoping to return by the end of April after the government pledged to bring them back, though many say they have already suffered both financially and psychologically as a result of the prolonged delay.
The Immigration Department told the Post it had received inquiries and requests for help from about 990 Hongkongers stuck in Britain. Of those, around 370 had managed to return by spending three weeks in a country outside Britain – to circumvent the ban on direct flights and recent visitors to the country – before continuing on to Hong Kong, where they faced another three weeks of quarantine in local hotels.
But some stranded residents said they did not want to take the risk or could not afford to travel back home via a third country, while others have spent tens of thousands of dollars on hotels and additional flights in their desperation to get back to Hong Kong. One resident even had to forfeit HK$100,000 (US$12,865) in salary due to her absence.
Among those stuck in limbo in Britain are students, working professionals, the elderly and families, many of whom have been waiting for months to return to their home city.
On Monday, Secretary for Food and Health Sophia Chan Siu-chee announced Hong Kong would lift the travel ban for residents stuck in Britain due to an improvement in the country’s pandemic situation and its high vaccination take-up rate. Hongkongers will be allowed to return from Britain on several designated flights in the second half of April.
“We are working closely with the airline to have a few flights for these people to come back to Hong Kong,” Chan said on Monday, adding the arrangements would take “some time”.
Residents travelling from Britain will still be required to undergo testing upon arrival at Hong Kong’s airport, complete 21 days of quarantine in a designated hotel, and submit to further tests on the seventh, 12th and 19th days of their stay.