PRESS RELEASE – The Hong Kong BN(O) Welcome Programme 歡迎BN(O)香港人計劃

10 February 2022

PRESS RELEASE

新聞稿

Islington Chinese Association – The Hong Kong BN(O) Welcome Programme

依士靈頓華人協會 – 歡迎BN(O)香港人計劃

The Islington Chinese Association (ICA) welcomes the recent announcement of the 47 national and regional projects being allocated government funding by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities.

Being one of the longest-established Chinese community organisation based in London, ICA is delighted and thankful to be one of the organisations awarded a grant to launch a community project to help Hong Kongers settle into life in the UK.

ICA’s Fundraising Manager Lady Katy Blair, a Hong Konger, who founded the Association 35 years ago, said, “ICA as an inclusive community organisation, we take pride in our long history of supporting people of Chinese heritage, in particular those originated from Hong Kong, unceasingly over the last 35 years. This innovative funding will enable the Association to step up our efforts in initiating much needed services to help the newcomers acquire the skills and resources required for effective settlement and building strong community cohesion.”

She added, “Since January 2021, the Association has seen a significantly rising demand for different areas of support from the new BN(O) status holders. With the new grant, we have rolled out a new programme in no time to welcome and support these new comers. Our services focus on providing induction, promoting cohesion and facilitating adaptation, as summarised by the three letters I, C and A.”

Advice services, classes and activities will be offered to help them enhance their language and communication skills, understanding of local communities and cultures, skills and knowledge for job seeking and adaptation to the new environment. The programme will create a platform to facilitate mutual support among the newly arrived Hong Kongers and to inspire exchange of skills, training and knowledge in cultural heritage with the local communities.

ICA’s Welcome Hongkongers Programme’s overall goals are to support BN(O) status holders and their families to:-

Fully contribute to life in Britain, both economically, socially, enriching wider society
Feel safe and welcome, any hate incidents are tackled promptly
Access to the right settlement support services
Provide support to both resident Chinese communities, wider society and the BN(O) status holders so these new arrivals feel welcome and able to adjust and adapt to a new environment and thrive.

To mark the launch of the Programme, a Lunar New Year market with a Hong Kong theme will be held next Saturday on 19^th February at the Islington Chinese Association in London.

依士靈頓華人協會(ICA)歡迎住房、社區和地方政府事務部最近公布, 撥款資助47個全國及地區性的項目，歡迎以BN(O)簽証移居英國的香港人。

作為歷史最悠久的倫敦華人組織之一，ICA很榮幸成為其中一個獲得政府撥款的組織，幫助初抵英國的香港人落地生根。

ICA創辦人兼籌款經理謝錦霞女士也是香港移民，早於35年前創建ICA。她表示，協會是一個致力推動共融的社區組織，並為過去能不斷幫助華人，尤其是香港新移民而感到自豪。這筆創新的資助，讓本會能加強幫助這些新移民，獲得所需的技能及資源，安頓下來後能與社區建立密切的聯繫。

自從2021年1月，協會親見BN(O)人士在各方面所需的幫助有顯著的增加。在獲得政府資助後，馬上推出一個新計劃來歡迎及幫助香港新移民。服務重點為迎新 (induct)、凝聚 (cohere)及適應 (adapt)，三字開首字母正是依士靈頓華人協會簡稱ICA。

ICA將會提供諮詢服務，舉辦課程及各種活動，幫助新移民提升語文及溝通能力，認識本地社區生活和文化，掌握求職和生活技巧，及適應新的社區環境。本項目希望建立一個平台，讓新移民之間發揮團結互助的精神，並通過推廣香港人的知識、才能和文化承傳，助其積極融入本地社區。

ICA歡迎香港新移民計劃的主要目的是讓BN(O)人士及其家屬