47 organizations under the BN(O) Welcome Scheme were granted nearly 30 million in funding. The chairman of one of the beneficiary group appeared at the China Communist Party’s centennial celebration
The UK Home Office announced on Monday (26th) the allocation of funds for the third year of the British National (Overseas) (BN(O)) Welcome Scheme. A total of 47 organizations across the UK were granted funding, ranging from £19,400 to £400,000, totaling £2.989 million. The chairman of one of the beneficiary organizations had previously attended the 100th anniversary celebration of the establishment of the Communist Party of China in 2021 via video, and was praised by the then Chinese Consul-General in Manchester, Zheng Xi, who had returned to China after being involved in an incident of assaulting Hong Kong protesters last year.Last year, the Wai Yin Society, a women’s organization headquartered in Manchester, emphasized its political neutrality in a statement. Among the 47 organizations granted funding, the Wai Yin Society received nearly £40,000 through a regional project. The organization was established in 1988 and has been visited by officials from the Chinese Consulate-General in Manchester on multiple occasions. Zheng Xi, who previously attended a Wai Yin Society luncheon in 2018, praised the organization. Various websites catering to Chinese students and the Chinese community in the UK also list information about the Wai Yin Society, referring to it as a Chinese community organization in the UK. (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hong-kong-uk-welcome-programme-guidance-for-local-authorities)
Upon further investigation, it was found that the chairperson of the Wai Yin Society attended the “Manchester Consular District Overseas Chinese Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Communist Party of China” via video in 2021. Zheng Xi mentioned the chairperson in his speech, commending her and other community leaders for assisting the consulate during the pandemic and strongly opposing hate crimes against Chinese people and Chinese students. In August of last year, the Wai Yin Society issued a statement in response to controversies, stating that the unfair and untrue remarks on social media platforms did not reflect the organization’s non-political and diverse nature, emphasizing their commitment to political and religious neutrality. (https://thechasernews.co.uk/bno%e6%ad%a1%e8%bf%8e%e8%a8%88%e5%8a%8347%e7%b5%84%e7%b9%94%e7%8d%b2%e6%89%b9%e6%92%a5%e6%ac%be-%e6%85%a7%e5%a6%8d%e7%a4%be%e4%b8%bb%e5%b8%ad%e4%ba%ae%e7%9b%b8%e4%b8%ad%e5%85%b1%e9%bb%a8%e6%85%b6/)
In a recent development, Collaborative Hong Kong Women CIC, a women’s organization representing Hong Kong BNO holders in the UK, has expressed concerns over the Wai Yin Society and China. The organization has raised questions regarding the allocation of funds from the Welcome Hong Kong scheme to Chinese organization, fearing that the funds intended for Hong Kong individuals may be directed elsewhere. Despite their efforts to address this issue with the government, they claim to have received unsatisfactory responses, with the government dismissing their concerns as discriminatory. Consequently, their own funding applications have been consistently rejected. Collaborative Hong Kong Women CIC alleges a lack of responsiveness from the Welcome Hong Kong hub, an institution assisting Hong Kong individuals in their settlement process, further compounding their sense of discrimination. The organization is contemplating legal recourse and has initiated correspondence with relevant government officials, including Members of Parliament, in an effort to seek redress and clarification on these matters. (https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0jojsrymc8SUHpNeWbkgek2a3vhGAzBBj4FHAeXo2wXuQ8nQbMQ4ous5ZrqHLiYeUl&id=100027726203185)
Back in September 2021, the Wai Yin Society in Manchester, UK, established a cooperative relationship with members of the Communist Party of China in Chengdu through communist party group building projects. This collaboration aimed to provide services to foreign residents in the area during the COVID-19 pandemic. (https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/5_Q9w_2nBNARhAiEfXMN7g)
Despite the distance, the Wai Yin Society in the UK seems to have a never-ending concern for their motherland. Rumor has it that they might be working a little too closely with the CCP in mainland China, way out in the Far East. It seems like nothing can come between them, not even the miles that separate them.
