Hong Kong Community in Birmingham

Where they come from

Hong Kong is a vibrant city on China's south coast, a former British territory known for its skyline, harbour and food. Many of Birmingham's early Chinese restaurant families came from Hong Kong, and since 2021 thousands of Hong Kongers across Britain have arrived through the British National (Overseas) visa scheme.

The community in numbers

At the 2021 Census, out of a city population of 1,144,919, 2,656 people living in the city had been born in Hong Kong. More families have arrived since the census through the British National (Overseas) visa route, which opened in January 2021.

Working for Birmingham

New arrivals from Hong Kong include teachers, nurses, accountants, engineers, IT professionals and small business owners, and many are working hard to have their qualifications recognised so they can return to their careers. Hong Kong families have opened cafes, bakeries and businesses, and their children are thriving in the city's schools.

The city's future rests on the same things as its past: skills, enterprise and people willing to put in the hours. Whether in a hospital, a classroom, a lecture theatre, a van full of tools or a shop on a busy high street, Hong Kong residents are helping to build that future, and to make Birmingham a stronger, fairer and more welcoming city.

Culture and community life

Cantonese is the language of home for most Hong Kong families. Dim sum, milk tea, egg tarts and pineapple buns are favourites, and Chinese New Year and the Mid-Autumn Festival are celebrated with family. Community groups run Cantonese classes, sports clubs and support for new arrivals settling into Birmingham.

In a city where scores of languages are spoken, the Hong Kong community adds another voice to the conversation. Its members, old and new, are helping to make Birmingham the confident, outward-looking city it wants to be.