Hong Kong Watch welcomes the opening of Australia’s lifeboat scheme for Hong Kongers

Over the weekend, the Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke MP announced the opening of Australia’s lifeboat scheme for Hong Kongers. From 5 March 2022, Hong Kong passport holders already present in Australia on temporary skilled, temporary graduate, and student visa holders will be able to apply for permanent residency.

This announcement follows a statement by the Australian Prime Minister last summer that the country would offer a bespoke migration scheme for Hong Kongers following the introduction of the National Security Law.

It is expected that just under 9,000 Hong Kongers and their dependents will benefit from the new visa routes.

Commenting on the opening of the scheme, Benedict Rogers, Hong Kong Watch’s Chief Executive, said:

“For some time now Hong Kong Watch has been calling on the Australian Government to offer further details regarding these new visa routes for Hong Kongers. This weekend’s announcement of a date for the opening of Australia’s lifeboat scheme is a welcome development.

We would urge the Australian Government to consider building on this announcement in the future, to include Hong Kongers who have graduated from university in the previous five years and by making it easier for Hong Kongers at risk of persecution to claim asylum.”

香港監察歡迎澳洲為香港人開設救生艇計劃

在剛過去的周末，澳洲移民部長霍克(Alex Hawke)宣布澳洲將為香港人開設救生艇計劃。由2022 年 3 月 5 日起，已經身處澳洲並持有臨時技術、臨時畢業生和學生簽證的香港護照持有人將可以申請永久居留權。

在宣佈此計劃前，澳洲總理在去年夏天發表聲明，指在香港引入國安法後，澳洲將為香港人提供特別制定的移民計劃。

據估計，近 9,000 名香港人及其家屬將受益於新的簽證計劃。

對於此計劃，香港監察行政總裁羅傑斯表示：

“在過去的一段時間，香港監察一直呼籲澳洲政府提供更多有關為香港人而設的新簽證計劃的細節。今個周末，澳洲政府宣佈救生艇計劃的開放日期，是一個可喜的發展。

我們將促請澳洲政府在未來考慮以這項計劃作為基礎，把在過去五年從大學畢業的香港人納入其中，並讓面臨被檢控風險的香港人更容易申請庇護。”