Hong Kong Watch hosts town hall event in Manchester to discuss support for BNOs in the region

Hong Kong Watch, supported by local organisations including Trafford Hongkongers CIC, hosted a town hall event in central Manchester on 22 July to discuss support for BNOs in the region.

The event was chaired by Benedict Rogers, Chief Executive of Hong Kong Watch, and involved representatives from all three main political parties, as well as officials working within the BNO Welcome Programme in the North West Strategic Migration Partnership (SMP) and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).

The discussion focused around how the different council areas of Greater Manchester were supporting BNOs, and how the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the North West Strategic Migration Partnership was working on BNO-related advice and support. During the Q&A, questions were fielded on the future support for BNOs, how to access local elected representatives, and the UK asylum system.

Speakers included Councillor Sharmina August, Lead Member for Inclusive Economy, Anti-Poverty & Equalities on Salford Council, Councillor Tom Ross, Executive Member for Finance and Governance on Trafford Council, Timothy Cho, a North Korean refugee and activist as well as Councillor Candidate for Denton South Ward; and Aleksandra Bardon, Project Manager, Hong Kong BN(O) Programme, North West SMP.

There were also interventions from Joseph Sheehan, Project & Policy Support Officer, Asylum and Refugee Integration at the GMCA, and Councillor Alex Warren from Salford Council.