Former Hong Kong opposition figure allowed into UK after Heathrow detention

A former pro-democracy Hong Kong lawmaker was detained for hours at London’s Heathrow airport before being allowed to enter Britain, rights groups and media reported.

Wu Chi-wai, 63, holds a British National (Overseas) passport. The South China Morning Post reported on Thursday, citing an unnamed source, that Wu was held shortly after landing at Heathrow and was later admitted to the country.

A UK Home Office spokesperson said authorities were working to resolve a paperwork issue and did not give further details. The spokesperson said Britain “remains steadfast in its support for members of the Hong Kong community in the UK” and said the detention was not related to Wu’s conviction record in Hong Kong.

Wu was a lawmaker and leader of the now-disbanded Democratic Party. He was released last month after serving four years and five months in prison for subversion convictions under a national security law imposed by Beijing in 2020.

Britain launched its BNO visa scheme in 2021 in response to the security law, which followed Hong Kong’s large and sometimes violent democracy protests in 2019. Since the scheme opened, more than 230,000 people have been granted a visa and more than 170,000 have moved to Britain.

Hong Kong Watch said it was concerned by Wu’s detention. The rights group said he was eventually allowed to enter the UK on temporary admission after what it called a “deeply alarming situation” at the airport. The group said Wu had been told at the border that his passport would be confiscated and that he faced deportation back to Hong Kong within seven days.

Wu was among 45 former pro-democracy activists convicted of conspiracy to commit subversion in an unofficial legislative election in 2020. Many of the convicted activists remain in prison.