‘Freedom, justice’: Why Hong Kong people are moving to the UK

China’s security law a key reason that Hong Kong people are leaving the territory to start their lives anew elsewhere.

Hong Kong, China – After spending half his life building his career as an art director at a Hong Kong magazine, Edmond Kwok never thought he would have to start over in England toiling in manual labour jobs. Like most of the 50,000 people who left Hong Kong last year for a new life in a new land, 39-year-old Kwok says he had no choice but to make the sacrifices necessary to keep his family safe. Ever since last June, when Beijing imposed a national security law that criminalised protests and other forms of anti-government organising, many Hong Kong people have been on tenterhooks. Dozens of prominent dissidents and other vocal critics have since been charged, in some cases based on what they posted online or said in public.