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Hongkongers "struggle to stay afloat” under UK lifeboat visa rule changes

Since 2021, hundreds of thousands of Hongkongers have moved to the UK under the BN(O) “lifeboat” visa, seeking stability and a fresh start.

But for many, the reality has proved more complicated than expected. Rising living costs, the challenge of adapting to a very different lifestyle, and difficulties finding suitable work have left some struggling to stay afloat.

At the same time, proposed changes to visa rules have introduced uncertainty, raising concerns about longer routes to settlement and shifting requirements. For those who relocated based on earlier promises, the sense of security has begun to waver.

Through research and personal accounts, the piece examines the financial and emotional challenges behind migration. From questions of belonging to doubts about the future, it asks whether the promise of opportunity still holds, or if, for some, it is beginning to slip away.