Hong Kong Watch meets BNO community in Manchester to celebrate winter solstice
Last Saturday, Hong Kong Watch joined with Trafford Hongkongers CIC, Sam Dim Sam, and Manchester Hongkonger Community Centre in organising a community gathering in Manchester to celebrate the winter solstice with the local BNO community. The event, featuring a community forum with five local Councillors, seminars on settlement applications and local employment, children’s activities and Hong Kong-style refreshments, brought together over 200 BNO Hong Kongers. We were also pleased to welcome Connor Rand, Labour MP for Altrincham and Sale West, who met with local BNO families at the event.
The community forum, moderated by Benedict Rogers, co-founder and Chair of Trustees of Hong Kong Watch, welcomed five local Councillors from Trafford Council, including Tom Ross, Labour Councillor for Stretford & Humphrey Park Ward and Leader of the Council, Liz Patel, Labour Councillor for Sale Moor Ward and Deputy Leader of the Council, Waseem Hassan, Labour Councillor for Old Trafford Ward, Nathan Evans, Conservative Councillor for Hale Barns & Timperley South Ward and Leader of the Conservative Group, and Geraldine Coggins, Green Councillor for Altrincham Ward.
The panellists introduced council resources and support available to BNO Hong Kongers, and explored ways BNOs could increase their civic participation in their community. We also heard directly from BNOs who raised questions on local transport links, exploitative employment practices, and the connections between councillors and MPs to work on BNO policy issues.
During the seminar on settlement application, participants heard from a representative from Hong Kong Aid, who introduced the indefinite leave to remain (ILR) application process, common issues and available support. After the seminar, attendees were also able to raise their individual cases at a dedicated casework stall for further support. Attendees also learnt about local employment programmes available to BNOs during the employment seminar.
The event also featured a book signing session by our co-founder Benedict Rogers for the English and Chinese versions of his book, The China Nexus. Our team also met with local BNO families to discuss the human rights situation in Hong Kong and our next steps for BNO advocacy.
This winter solstice gathering brought together local BNO families to enjoy a variety of family-friendly activities including balloon modelling, face painting, craft workshop and Cantonese storytelling, and to celebrate the festive season with Hong Kong-style milk tea, baked treats and street food.
Hong Kong Watch is grateful for this opportunity to connect with Hong Kongers in the Manchester area. Thank you for your continued support and we wish you a peaceful winter solstice and Christmas season.
香港監察與曼城BNO港人歡度冬至 暢談來年BNO倡議工作
上週六，香港監察與Trafford Hongkongers CIC、三點三和曼城香港人社區中心在曼徹斯特合辦社區聚會，與BNO港人共度冬至佳節。活動節目豐富，包括獲五位區議員出席的BNO社區論壇、有關定居入籍和本地就業支援的講座、兒童活動及港式茶點，吸引了超過200名BNO港人參加。我們亦很榮幸獲代表Altrincham and Sale West選區的工黨國會議員Connor Rand MP出席聚會，與本地BNO港人家庭見面。
社區論壇由香港監察共同創辦人兼信託董事會主席羅傑斯（Benedict Rogers）主持，並獲五位來自Trafford Council的區議員出席，包括：代表Stretford & Humphrey Park區的工黨區議員兼議會領袖Cllr Tom Ross、代表Sale Moor區的工黨區議員兼議會副領袖Cllr Liz Patel、代表Old Trafford區的工黨區議員Cllr Waseem Hassan、代表Hale Barns & Timperley South區的保守黨區議員兼保守黨組別領袖Cllr Nathan Evans，以及代表Altrincham區的綠黨區議員Cllr Geraldine Coggins。
一眾區議員介紹了地方議會向BNO港人提供的資源及支援，並探討了BNO港人可以如何提高在社區的公民參與。在論壇發問環節，BNO港人就本地交通服務、僱傭剝削行為，以及區議員與國會議員之間就BNO政策議題合作的途徑提問。
在定居入籍講座期間，來自港援（Hong Kong Aid）的代表介紹了永居申請的步驟、常見問題和專門支援服務。講座結束後，參加者亦有機會就自己的個案查詢，獲進一步協助。另外，現場亦有就業支援講座，讓參加者了解相關本地就業服務及資訊。
聚會期間，香港監察共同創辦人羅傑斯為著作《The China Nexus》的英文版和中文版舉行簽書會。香港監察團隊亦與曼城地區的BNO港人家庭見面，討論香港人權狀況，以及我們BNO倡議工作的進展和下一步行動。
今次冬至聚會匯聚了本地BNO港人家庭參與各式各樣的親子活動，包括扭氣球、臉部彩繪、藝術工作坊和香港話講故事工作坊，並以港式奶茶、包點和街頭小食「做冬」。
香港監察很高興可以藉此機會與曼城地區的香港人眾首一堂。感謝大家一直以來的支持，祝各位冬至與聖誕佳節平安。