Hackney Chinese Community Services
Hackney Chinese Community Services (HCCS) was founded in 1985 to increase access to public services for the local Chinese community.
HCCS provides advice and support, health advocacy, an elderly lunch club, a youth club, and translation services to the East and Southeast Asian (ESEA) community. They have welcomed communities from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and China. HCCS have been granted the lease to relocate to a 6,000 square foot venue in Hackney to accommodate the expansion of their services to the ESEA community. Recently, they have provided additional services in mental health and assisting Hongkongers in finding safe haven in the UK.
Since June 2020, they have been providing support to Hong Kong arrivals that are asylum seekers and potential HKBN(O) applicants. They advise on accommodation, healthcare, education, and employment in the UK. HCCS staff were trained by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants in the asylum seeker and HKBN(O) routes for Hong Kongers. They continue to engage with Greater London Authority and London boroughs to develop services to facilitate Hongkongers’ settlement in the UK.
Website: www.hackneychinese.org.uk
Email: [email protected]
Hongkongers in Britain
Hongkongers in Britain (HKB) is a civil society organisation established in July 2020 and a registered company in the UK.
Their aims are:
- to safeguard the rights for Hongkongers seeking asylum from improper treatment of detention and deportation;
- to inform and share the culture and community of Hongkongers with British society and vice versa;
- to facilitate integration, promote racial harmony, and enhance socio-cultural connections between Hongkongers and British society; and
- to advance charitable objectives beneficial to the Hongkongers community in the UK.
HKB wrote a policy study for BN(O) holders intending to come to the UK with policy recommendations and have presented advice and evidence to the Home Office, House of Commons, and Greater London Authority. HKB are now applying for funding for projects that support across education, mental health, safety, legal and immigration advice, and research and are in the process of becoming a registered charity.
Website: www.facebook.com/HongkongersUK
Email: [email protected]
Hong Kong Assistance and Resettlement Community
Hong Kong Assistance and Resettlement Community (HKARC) aims to provide legal advice, assistance, and mental health support to Hongkongers in need in the UK. They focus on providing support to asylum seekers and those experiencing financial hardship.
Website: hongkongarc.org/
Email: [email protected]
Joint-working
In January 2021, HCCS, HKB, and HKARC presented their work and recommendations at the Greater London Authority’s London HK BNO Response meeting, which was attended by the Home Office, Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, London councils, London boroughs, Metropolitan police and other agencies.
A joint paper of recommendations has been produced by HCCS, HKB, and HKARC.