LOCAL Liberal Democrats are calling for more support for Warrington residents who have settled in the town from Hong Kong.
Warrington has many residents from Hong Kong, estimated to be more than 5,000, but their status in this country is under threat. The Lib Dem Party in Warrington has put forward a motion of support to be discussed at Warrington Council, tomorrow, Monday 20 October.
Cllr Sharon Harris said: “Warrington is a town that has always stood up for fairness, decency, and human rights. These values must not be watered down in the face of international pressure or political opportunism and populism. A visa scheme was introduced in 2021 as a lifeline to the people of Hong Kong who faced the dismantling of freedoms and rights which were guaranteed under the Joint Declaration between Britain and China in 1984 when Hong Kong was transferred to Chinese control. It was a solemn promise to settlement and ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’ after five years of residency.
“We now face two troubling developments. Firstly, the Government’s intention to lengthen the pathway to settlement from five years to ten years creates uncertainty and undermines the trust that was built when Hong Kongers came here. Secondly, proposals to reinstate extradition arrangements with Hong Kong and China could be used to silence journalists, activists and opposition figures and anyone who advocates the ‘crime’ of free speech without strict safeguards.
Cllr Harris added: “Reform UK has announced a policy that would abolish ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’ entirely, forcing every settled migrant, including those who have lived here for decades, to reapply every five years. This is cruel, destabilising, and corrosive and would turn long-standing neighbours, colleagues, NHS workers and carers into people living in limbo. Many of those who came here have made their home in Warrington and across the North West. They are part of our communities, they are running businesses, they are raising families, and they are enriching our town.
“The Labour Government White Paper ‘Restoring Control over the Immigration System’ is the final straw to a settled Hong Konger. It proposes to tighten up the English language requirement to that of an A-level, which is an impossibly high bar when you consider that many of our school leavers finish school without achieving level 4 in GCSE English. This is not fair.
“This motion is about more than party politics – it is about standing up for decency. Warrington should make its voice clear by defending the five-year pathway for visa holders, resisting any weakening of extradition protections and opposing a constant realignment of the criteria needed to achieve ‘Indefinite Leave to Remain’. We will reject policies, whether from Reform or from Government, that strip away the certainty and security that people need to build their lives here.
“We are asking colleagues to show leadership at the Council meeting by showing clearly that Warrington is a place that stands for its promises, stands for human rights, and stands against division. This year’s Mela has shown how Warrington residents are inclusive and welcoming.”
A number of events, including a friendship festival, have taken place welcoming people from Hong Kong in Warrington since 2023.
