text: 'Hundreds of thousands' of Hong Kongers will accept Boris's escape route to the UK - The Canadian
  A London-based Hong Kong student has said that she is keen to take up UK government's 'lifeboat' offer to live and settle in Britain after China launched a brutal crackdown on the city's pro-democracy protesters with its new national security law.
  Eunice Wong, who has just finished her Master's degree in the UK, said the escape route provided by No. 10 was 'the only option' for her because it would no longer be safe for her to go back home.
  Ms Wong could be among 'hundreds of thousands of people' who plan to uproot their lives in the former British colony and come to the UK to avoid being persecuted by Beijing and Hong Kong authorities.
  'Hundreds of thousands of people' from Hong Kong might come to the UK after the Government offered an escape route to around three million British National Overseas passport holders in the former colony, according to an activist who has been granted asylum
  Eunice Wong, who has just finished her Master's degree in the UK, said the escape route provided by No. 10 was 'the only option' for her out of fears that she could be persecuted back home. Pictured, a man is detained by riot police during a demonstration on July 1 in Hong Kong
  Boris Johnson yesterday unveiled firm plans for the UK to take in up to three million Hong Kong residents who hold the British National Overseas (BNO) passports as Downing Street blasted China over the draconian new clampdown on the opposition.
  'This lifeboat scheme will help these British Nationals and their dependents to come to the UK if they need to. BNOs are given the chance to work and contribute into society and work towards citizenship which was previously restricted with visas,' Ms Wong told MailOnline.
  The Imperial College London graduate, who is in her 20s, said that because she had spoken to media in the UK, she would be deemed an offender of the security law and persecuted by Hong Kong authorities.
  But she noted that it was hard to estimate how many people in Hong Kong would move to the UK through the route at present.
  'It depends on the details released from the Home Office [before we can make] such a big decision, as Hong Kong is where our roots are and leaving our home is a big change,' she added.
  'Furthermore, there is no access to public funds so BNOs who come will have to be financially well off in order to support themselves and are able to come and get a job.
  'Some people who are eligible for a BNO might already have a different nationality, therefore, they might not want to come to the UK.'
  'Hundreds of thousands of people' from Hong Kong might take advantage of No.10's offer and move to the UK, said a former British consulate worker who alleged he was tortured in China.
  Simon Cheng is the first person to have been granted political asylum by the Home Office in response to China's crackdown on the Hong Kong anti-government movement after he was allegedly shackled, beaten, forced to stand for long hours in secret detention in the Chinese city of Shenzhen.
  Mr Cheng, a British overseas national, announced Wednesday night that his immigration application had been approved last Friday by the British government, possibly heralding a new wave of immigrants from the Asian financial hub.
  The file picture taken on November 29, 2019 shows Hong Kong protesters wearing masks depicting Simon Cheng old banners as they attend a rally outside the British Consulate General in Hong Kong after he was allegedly tortured for long hours in Shenzhen, China
  Numerous Hong Kong websites have published articles explaining the process of applying for a BNO, including one titled 'Things you must know before immigration'.
  Hong Kongers have also flocked to voice their plan to escape to the UK on Twitter.
  One wrote: 'Unlike most Chinese, we will contribute and maintain the value of freedom and democracy in UK.'
  Thank you for the support. Unlike most Chinese, we will contribute and maintain the value of freedom and democracy in UK.🙏
  — Alex 😷 (@alexhk2019) July 1, 2020
  Hong Kong is where I live and the police are hurting hk and so is China and our chief executive is doing nothing because she is working with China and the only one who's doing anything is borris Johnson he is giving a chance for hkers to move to the uk so I might just go there
  — alexander pritchard (@alexanderprit13) July 2, 2020
  Simon Cheng is a former British consulate worker in Hong Kong who was kidnapped & tortured by the Chinese security services. He was granted asylum in the UK. He says "hundreds of thousands of people" from Hong Kong may choose to come to the UK #R4Todayhttps://t.co/dADKrvUM2h
  Police officers are seen in front of a water cannon during a march against the national security law at the anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China from Britain, in Hong Kong on July 1
  Mr Cheng, a British overseas national, was detained in China for over two weeks last August after Beijing accused the former consulate worker of inciting unrest amid mass anti-government demonstrations in Hong Kong.
  The 29-year-old announced in a Facebook post Wednesday night that his immigration application had been approved last Friday by the British government.
  He wrote: 'The UK Home Office has granted me the eligibility for asylum. The Prime Minister's Office and Foreign Office are also introducing immigration policies to protect the overseas British passport holders and their family members.
  'I sincerely thank the British government for fulfilling its moral obligations and showcasing political courage to rescue British citizens. [I] hope I can be the first (of many), and those Hong Kong citizens who have not been taken into account could seek protection,' the pro-democracy supporter added.
  British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab (pictured in the House of Commons on July 1) has offered three million British Nationals Overseas (BNO) passport holders to relocate to the UK after China imposed draconian new national security law in the Asian financial hub
  Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson speaking during Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) in the House of Commons in London on July 1
  It comes after British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has offered three million British Nationals Overseas (BNO) passport holders to relocate to the UK after China imposed draconian new national security law in the financial hub.