Former Hong Kong opposition leader Wu Chi-wai has appealed against the UK government’s decision to grant him only seven days’ temporary admission, requiring him to leave the country by Wednesday, the South China Morning Post has learned.
A source said on Monday that Wu had written to the British Home Office asking it to reconsider the decision and could potentially seek a judicial review if the appeal is rejected.
“A letter has been sent to the Home Office telling them they have made a mistake and asking them to reconsider [the decision],” the source added.
“Where there are good grounds for thinking that the Home Office has got the law wrong, it is possible to bring a judicial review. But that is a very cumbersome and expensive process. So that is something of last resort.”
Wu, the former chairman of the now-defunct Democratic Party and an ex-lawmaker, was granted temporary admission after being refused entry at London Heathrow Airport last week.
He was released from a Hong Kong prison in late June after serving four years and five months in a landmark subversion case linked to his role in a 2020 unofficial primary election.
According to the source, Wu is considering applying for the British National (Overseas) pathway to UK citizenship, rather than seeking asylum, so he can reunite with his family who already live in Britain. The source said immigration officers may have misunderstood the relevant rules when they initially denied him entry.
