It has been nine months since Adrian Leung and his family moved to Hong Kong in search of a better life in Britain.
The teacher and his family were going to move to Canada to escape political turmoil back home. He said his choice was clear when the government announced a new visa program for Hong Kong citizens.
The criteria of Britain's scheme is much lower than that of Canada. It's much easier to me.
A new national security law passed in June 2020 has many in Hong Kong angry.
Western governments and human rights watchdogs have condemned the law, which aims to prohibit the subversion of state power, as it undermines the principle of one country, two systems.
Those born in Hong Kong prior to its handover were offered refuge by Britain. Britain's offer for refuge came for that specific purpose and was timed accordingly. China's failure to live up to its international obligations with respect to Hong Kong has prompted the U.K. to help those who were born there.
For the future of my son, I thought we had to leave.
The Chinese embassy in London said that the U.K. visa scheme was an interference.
China said that the law was necessary to curb the mass protests in Hong Kong in 2019.
In the past year, tens of thousands of Hong Kongers have left to emigrate to Britain.
It seemed to me that Hong Kong would not be under the rule of law after June 2019.
The British National (Overseas), or BNO, visa program was launched to great fanfare in January 2021, with Johnson declaring his pride over a program designed to honor Britain and the people of Hong Kong.
The U.K. government said at the time that the program would open the door to an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 Hong Kongers.
Adrian Leung moved to Durham, U.K. with his wife and son in June 2021, shortly after the government opened its BNO visa scheme for Hong Kong nationals.The U.K. received 103,900 applications for the visa program, which entitles holders and their dependents to five years of residence with a pathway to citizenship.
Most of the applicants are highly skilled and work in managerial roles.
Seven in 10 people granted the visa were university educated, and three-quarters had professional occupations, according to a survey by the home office. Two in five were under the age of 35.
The findings suggest a win for the U.K. government as it seeks to position itself as a magnet for international talent even after it leaves the EU. The experience of Hong Kong emigres who spoke to CNBC has been more nuanced.
BNO visa holders praised the speed and ease with which applications were processed, but some said the personal costs of making the move have been high.
The five-year visa costs $375 and there is a mandatory surcharge of $3,120 for adults and $2,350 for children. A family of four can expect to pay a lot of fees before entering the United Kingdom.
Britain is facing its worst cost of living crisis in decades.
Leung and his wife used their savings to fund their move to Britain after selling their apartment. Not everyone has been as fortunate as they were when they bought a home in Durham.
KT, a nurse from Hong Kong, relocated to the Nottingham, England in December 2020, during the height of the U.K.’s coronavirus lockdowns.One BNO visa holder, who spoke to CNBC anonymity due to fear of a backlash or being identified by new colleagues in Britain, arrived inNottingham, England, in December 2020 during the height of the U.K.'s coronaviruses scare.
The source was unable to rent a home without a bank account and was unable to open a bank account without a home address.
After six weeks in an apartment, the 45 year old found a landlord who would house him and his family in exchange for six months of advanced rent. His pension is held in Hong Kong.
The source, who left his nursing jobs in Hong Kong to pursue democracy, rule of law, civil liberties and respect, said money was not their top priority.
The Chinese embassy in London and Hong Kong did not respond to a CNBC request for comment.
The source found himself sacrificing financial and professional stability for political security, like many other highly skilled Hong Kong migrants in Britain. He works at a hospital while his wife works at a warehouse.
He said that he and his family are using savings to make ends meet after he had a gap year.
A second CNBC source was over qualified for most available work. The university lecturer decided to leave Hong Kong because of its human rights situation, which was threatening his children's future and his own mental health.
A 51-year-old man who had been looking for a job for six months got a part-time job at a fast food chain.
If I didn't have children, my consideration might be different because I have had to give up everything, the second source said, who also spoke on condition of anonymity.
Under extreme circumstances, BNO visa holders are not eligible for welfare benefits. The government set aside $43 million for integration projects for the Hong Kong diaspora.
The second anonymous source said better provisions might have been made for the sudden influx of Hong Kong workers, but he still considers himself lucky.
He secured a place for his two children at a very good state school in outer London within weeks of arriving in June 2021.
Adrian Leung, who left Hong Kong in hope of a brighter future, said his son, 10, is enjoying more freedoms in Britain.My initial goal was to help the children adjust. They have adjusted better than I have, and their children quickly settled into local friendship groups.
Competition for school spaces is heating up one year into the program. Some schools in Britain have had to turn away Hong Kong students because of record interest. Three-quarters of BNO visa holders arriving in Britain are married or with long-term partners, while two-thirds have children.
The first anonymous CNBC source said that it was fortunate that we were a bit earlier settled.
The BNO visa holders who spoke to CNBC said they were grateful for the program, which, while not necessarily an obligation, was certainly a responsibility of the U.K. government. They liked the prospect of a brighter future.
After moving to Durham with his family, my son enjoys a lot more freedom, including the freedom to run.
According to Home Office data, 98% of those granted BNO visas have no plans to return to Hong Kong. BNO visa holders can apply for permanent residence and leave after five years at a cost of 2,389. They can apply for British citizenship the following year.
Definitely U.K citizenship is our ultimate goal since I am in line with the values of this country.
U.K citizenship is our ultimate goal, since I am in line with the values of this country, and elderly relatives are one of my few remaining ties to Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is losing skilled locals as overseas workers tire of the city's zero-covid policy.
The second CNBC source said that he didn't think it would get better. Increasing authoritarianship is what that means.
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