‘Nothing is scarier than staying’: Hong Kong family uproots as fear looms over city’s future 

It's never easy leaving your home ,family and friends behind. It would be nice to see an update how they are settling in Scotland .

But what about there cat did they take it with them I need to know

Reminds me of how we felt when we moved to Canada. I was 14 & I cried when the flight took off & landed in Ottawa. But looking back, I’m so glad that my family decided to move out of HK.

I love how the mom was worried for the kids the whole generation and yes she's right sad to see.

The situation isn't great here either. Lack of jobs due to covid. My mum and dad from HK emigrated here in the 1980's and it was hard. Dealing with racism and abuse but they persevered and times have changed..me and my sister faced that growing up in the 90's but we came out tougher tho it won't be easy at all. Scotland is better than England but not by much.

For their sake, I hope they have visited Scotland many times before and have developed connections and a community for them to seamlessly transition into. Unfortunately, nothing about them in this interview indicates a smooth move. Just because they were colonized by the British, does not mean they can just be plugged in anywhere in the UK. And with Anti-Asian sentiment running high, I don’t think they will find themselves very welcome anywhere. Trust me, to them, you’re not HK; you’re Chinese.

This family has no idea what life is going to be like for them in Scotland. As the economy in the UK is worst than the current situation in HK.

“The grass always looks greener on the other side” as some will say.

Hong Kong families: We're moving to the UK! B.1.1.7 Covid-19: *hello there*

Sadly , many of those ' hopeful ' Hong Kong migrants will eventually discover that the grass is not greener on the other side. I've always maintained that if you are a law-abiding citizen you have nothing to fear wherever you live. Had those violent rioters in Hong Kong behaved in a similar manner in the U S. or U.K. , I doubt very much they would have lived long enough to tell the tale !!

As a Chinese l stayed in Glasgow Scotland for 4 yeast in the easly nineties Life was most miserable I later found out that the suicide rate is highest there in the whole of Europe

Interesting, I moved to HK🇭🇰 this year to work, I was born and raised in the UK🇬🇧 from 1997. It was always a dream of mine to live where my heritage came from.

20 years ago, when British people see me, they always asked, are you come from HK? I said no, Im come from mainland China. They will say“ oh! ” 20 years later, British people see me, ask me where are you come from, after I said I come from mainland China, they will say me or some relative have been to China's Beijing/Shanghai/Chongqing.......I just want to say the world is changed, UK is changed, seems only hker still living in the same old world

Happy for them. If you do not feel the belonging of the city, just go away, and leave HK to the people who love it and are willing to fight for its better future.

"Is this Hong Kong still same Hong Kong we knew? " No dude. This isn't British Hong Kong anymore.This is China's Hong Kong. Move along.

Welcome to the world of racism in Scotland, stay safe

Facing the coming Brexit, the situation will be harder that this family would expect.

This is so sad. No one should ever have to force themselves to leave the place that they love and grew up in. May everything work out well in Scotland.

I respect their choice, but could scmp not promote their narrative? Many of hkers are actually optimistic about future.

Imagine when they get settled in UK, now the 'mutant' of Covid hits...

U are going to be disappointed going to Scotland. Over the years. many who have migrated eventually came back to make money. If U haven't been there, U think it is heaven. Only when U get there, U know. It's tough, very tough.

Well, they blamed everything on the central government but not the violent protests. Let them see the real discrimination themselves.

Lots of Hong Kong citizens left prior 1997 takeover only to return years later. The grass is not always greener on the other side.

Why Scotland? Of all the places they could have chosen, Scotland? As the world is right now, they be sure to face racism, discrimination and hate. Even If they are scared of unfamiliarity might have just picked Singapore, Malaysia , Taiwan, Japan , South Korea, or even Thailand. Oh well,all the best of luck to this family.

After 20 years they still dreamed of colonialism.

Nothing scarier? Guess they have not been to Glasgow yet!

What a sad state of affairs. 🙁🙁

Wish people in Libya could say the same.

“Nothing scarier than staying.” Uh, you been to Scotland?

Actually, they decided to go to Scotland and they surely don’t know how bad it is in Scotland in terms of culture difference. I would not wish this on my worst enemy. Give them 1 year in Scotland and they will realise things can be worst. All the things they take for granted will come back to haunt them. Why TF did they choose Scotland. I was living in Manchester for a long time and when I came to HK, I felt like Nelson Mandela being released from prison. Anyway, see them back within 1-2 years. Living in Greater Bay Area is much better option. Eating fish and chips and the occasional Haggis every day is no laughing matter. 🤪

走不走都是自己的选择，没什么好评价的。不管做出了什么样的选择都祝好运吧

My wife and I are Hong Kong Chinese that has been in the UK for 17 years. We are selling our business and want to move back to Hong Kong. Any interested parties?

Later they’ll say nothing is scarier than intimidating Brit teens.

Some people believe if you can say anything you want it means you are free. However that is the same freedom as a dog is barking at a tree.

Back in 1990s, my father moved to Australia aa he intended to escape from the 1997's Hong Kong handover. Unfortunately, he was restrained to return back to Hong Kong because of his parents. Now, my parents and I have lived in Hong Kong for almost 20 years and decided to move to Australia. The decision of moving to Australia has come through my mind due to Covid~19 and series of protests. It was pathetic that many of us have to leave our most affectionate hometown and move to somewhere we all feel nervous. Hope everyone is doing alright!

Hong Kong will prevail, the most beautiful and wonderful City in the world.

I don't have much to say. Hope your kids can thrive in the healthy environment of racism and discrimination

It is even more scarier after you moved to UK.

What are they afraid about? They are just ordinary citizen not criminals.

Grass is always greener on the other side, until you are on the other side.

Right now I just hope they are able to live peacefully and that the stuff in Hong Kong calms down

Best of luck to this family. These choices are never easy and they made them for the next generation in mind. Hope it works out for the best.

A lot of Hong Kongers have a very rosy image of what is UK.

Hope SCMP would report the life of those who emigrated. Many of those emigrated in 1997 had moved back.

Amen. May your family live better lives and be blessed. The pure free hong kong will always remain in our hearts.

As a Chinese living in Scotland, I would have recommended them to think again.

My parents moved us to Scotland from HK when I was 7. Sad to see the situation unfolding but Scotland is getting progressively worse under SNP with civil liberties and free speech eroding. I can see myself moving back across to SE Asia because of this. UK ain’t a bed of roses people paint it.

After you go, you miss your home city. That is the nature. Hope you are not regret for your choice.

best wishes for the family, hopefully their will be accept in any country of their destination... as in this middle of the pandemic things are having too much variables, hard to predict.

I read many comments here stating that they better get used to racism in Scotland. I am half-Scottish and half-Chinese. I spent half my childhood in the UK, and the other half growing up in Singapore. I have visited HK many times, and have friends and family living there. Sorry to say this but HK and Singapore are way more racist societies than Scotland/England/Wales/NI. Life is what you make of it. There may be anti-social behaviour in the UK (England=yobs; Scotland=neds), but most Scots are way more polite and considerate than your average person in HK. In addition, the average (median) full-time salary in Edinburgh or Aberdeen would get you a slightly higher standard of living than in HK. With the right attitude (and appropriate attire), Scotland can be a wonderful place to live....

322,000 hkers leaving to UK? You guys just helped solved HK housing problem

Reason for leaving aside, Scotland is an amazing and inviting place with a strong Chinese community there. They will help to look after you.

I want to tell you a little story, I'm from Indonesia, I have an aunt who works in Hong Kong, she once said that the salary she received was very little even though her work was very heavy and heavy. Are Hong Kong people stingy? or very calculating?, please have mercy on foreign workers

听她的语气，还以为她是从阿富汗、叙利亚出逃的。香港这么惨了吗？有战火？有人压迫她们无法生存？还是她们遭遇了什么样的不公？

*These people are delusional! They brought all the troubles upon themselves!*

Hong Kong was forcefully taken away from China. It marked the start of what the Chinese would later call, A Century of Humiliation. China will never let Hong Kong go, those who can't accept this should leave. There's no other alternatives

The report left out one crucial matter about their move to Glasgow - does the family support Rangers or Celtic?

Hong Kong used to be an icon of Asia and Asian pop culture, it’s such a shame

I’m not surprised they felt they had no choice but to leave. Welcome to the UK! May you be very happy here 😊

For people who want to leave Hong Kong, I give them all of best wishes. For those who have decided to stay, including myself, should be United to build a new and prosperous HongKong as this is our home!

Me and My husband are decided to leave HK for Canada soon,we'll raise our sons there.One of my friend and her husband with their 3 kids also will do the same.

I think the future will be better in HK. I wouldn't recommend leaving unless you are seriously 身有K。If you really really have to leave, I wish you free and happy. Just stop destroying HK after you went overseas. Those living overseas should not advocate 攬炒。Let others live. Canada would be a better choice, by the way.

Better think twice before moving to Europe. They might regret this when they get older Nowaydays things are getting expensive. Racist is still around

There are more freedom now than ever before in Hong kong. I don't see these guys protesting under British rule.

i wonder if hkers realize that the quality of life in hk is far higher than the uk? apart from more political freedom, which has to be balanced with higher levels of racism, i cannot understand why someone would move to scotland - they are on different planets in terms of development and middle class living standards.

As in cantonese saying..."sor hai". There is no place like home. Especially if home consist of people your own race. Unless they make it rich in Scotland or that the future of the kids turn out well, they will 100% regret it. Imagine, sacrificing it all for your kids, hoping that they will have a bright future in Scotland, it may turn out that they cannot surpass the rife racism there and end up doing menial jobs with no career prospects while those whom they left behind continue to prosper... Suffer in Scotland, the weather, the food, the people and end up with NOTHING !!!!!

Best for your family. Don't come back, wish you will never regret your decision today. The development of China will have nothing to do with anyone of you.

Wait until they freeze their bottoms off and get sick of the kidney pie.

It's ok they need to experience real hardship oversea before realizing their privileged life

Go to a place where there is a kind heart, the Scots are lovely, lovely people and we are all immigrants of some kind, fear not!

If they own that apartment, they should leave it alone and not sell it because in case life in Scotland is not working out for some reason and there are too many difficulties especially with language barriers, at least they can still have a place to go back to in Hong Kong if they do decide to come back to Hong Kong.

Lovely or not is perspective, people had their own troubles whatever the decisions.

They have to follow their colonial masters .... 🤦!!

They are in a rude awakening once they get there. Visit them after 2-3 yrs and hear them wished they never left Hongkong. As they say, best teacher will be experience.

Hong Kong is an amazing place. Consider all things it is one of the freest places on earth. Many people who abandon HK to a western world for "freedom" or to escape CCP will regret their decision

Running from one problem to another bigger problem

You can tell they never stayed oversea for extended period of time. There is nothing like making life changing decisions based on movies and rumors.

this is what western democracy brings: unnecessary violence and fleeing, also they are very short-sighted if they don't think China mainland will become a rich and developed society soon.

The choice of music makes it sound like tragic, but these folks emigrate by choice

既然不愿意做香港人，那就随他们去吧！搞得这么悲情，给谁看呢？

Glasgow: Lowest life expectancy in the UK, which already has a lower life expectancy than Hong Kong.

One thing to travel and study in the West another to settle down permanently your race follows you

Big respects to these people for trying to make room for the better of HK. Their masters are waiting in the UK.

1997 all over again LoL. Pretty large percentage of those who left in 1997 ended up returning once they saw they couldn't make it overseas and HK was still better. This time, China should make sure it is a one-way ticket. Those who betray, and swear allegiance to their former colonial master, shall never set foot in this land again. Enough is enough. They don't deserve it.

I hope they are doing fine in the new environment. 2020 had been a rough year for everyone.

One must be really desperate to move to Glasgow. I would prefer Edinburgh.

Well, the grass won't be greener on the other side. As an immigrant, you risk your future, decade of your life, at the mercy at unpredictable bureaucracy and politics, and hated by people on fault that is none of your own doing. There will hardly be any friends or family come to your rescue. The hardship is yours and your own to taste, and for a long time. It will be a painful realization over years. But people rarely would admit that their past choices might not suit them. Such admission makes them insecure.

HK is such a packed country where houses are like sardines in a can. If they move, because of that, I can understand.

I wish them all the best of luck in Scotland. I hope they have thoroughly made the considerations when making this decision and have connections with the local community. The grass isn't greener on the other side. I find it sad for the children to have them leave behind the friends and family, having to start from scratch.

My inner cynic is getting the best of me something tells me that this family's move to Scotland may have more to having their kids placed in a less competitive schooling system which may grant more opportunities for their children in the long run. My HK friends who studied abroad for high school and uni are all doing much better financially than the locals who could not afford to go abroad. This whole worring about HK's future is just a form of virtue signaling which HK people do so well. Mainland China may not have the same degree of political freedom as Scotland but it is a bit of a stretch to say that Shanghainese are as oppressed as they were in Maoist era China or Stalinist Russia.

So sad. They will realise that they don’t belong and never will.

I'm most likely going to the UK to study there. The main reason is education not because of the protests, but that's also one of the small reasons. Mainly education and convenience though

I hope more Hongkong move to England. After 5 year, you will see how British treat you...

Most Hong Kong people don’t even know that it will be worse in the US, UK and Australia with all the racism and prejudices. It is not always better to leave home as there’s difficulty with starting over and without friends and family to support you.

I saw an article about this family and their decision to move to Scotland on the internet.

SCMP, this video looks nothing but a piece of bias news to me. There are plenty of people like me in HK who are happy to see the national security law finally launching, filling loophole left by the absence of Basic Law Article 23, and many who were pessimistic about HK's future seeing how all the violent protests dividing HK last year now become optimistic thanks to the launch of the national security law. Why don't SCMP interview us?

All the best wherever you go. And all the best to those that remain in HK. You are also living in great city. Complain less and contribute constructively to the people around you and the society you live in.

I kinda feel bad for them, not because they had to uproot their family and settle in a new country, but that they've been in a bubble for so long and misled to think that the situation in HK is so bad. “The grass always looks greener on the other side” but when you get to the other side you realize there are other problems waiting for you, maybe even more. I too left HK (not for political reasons) many years ago to settle in a Western country and now realize there are lots of things that are better in HK. Maybe the family will come to realize that HK isn't so bad.

Wish you all the best when you don't have faith in your own country but have faith in foreign country... When you leave China which means leaving China grips, you have gone to another foreign country's grips where you will not be same level as like you're in your home country... Hope you able to bear that new grips...

Don't come back, everyone knew yours !