Britain’s newest immigrants are showing a flair for protest

ON JANUARY 16th around 250 Hong Kongers gathered on Princes Street in Edinburgh to protest against attacks on press freedom in their former home. Volunteers marshalled the crowd to avoid blocking the pavement for locals. After speeches and a rendition of “Glory to Hong Kong”, the anthem of the pro-democracy movement, the protesters arranged themselves into an orderly line, snaking 150 metres around the grand National Records building. They left a gap so that two buskers could continue their performances.

Between January and September last year 88,000 Hong Kongers applied to move to Britain under the British National (Overseas) visa route, which was created by the government in response to the crackdown on democracy in Hong Kong. Many of them have been quick to stage in their adopted home the traditions of their old one. The protest in Edinburgh was one of at least ten held across Britain in January alone. Some demonstrations in London have attracted almost 1,000 people. For a modest-sized group of new immigrants, the speed and scale with which the Hong Kongers have taken to the streets is striking.