The YouTubers helping explain Britain to new arrivals from Hong Kong
A new group of YouTube influencers are helping explain life in Britain to tens of thousands of Hong Kongers moving to Britain, according to new research published this week (4 July). Their videos are helping people make important life decisions on where to live, work and send their kids to school – as well as more fun topics like the best Chinese ready meals from UK supermarkets, as well as British customs, manners and places to go on holiday in the UK.
Recently arrived Hong Kongers interviewed for a new report published by the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers said that YouTube had been a major source of information about different geographical areas, explaining about the school system, house prices, workplace culture and hobbies.
Kathleen Ng from the Welcoming Committee for Hong Kongers interviewed Youtubers Stevo and Faye – whose ‘Moving Socks’ channel has 115,000 subscribers – for this short clip to be shown at the Welcoming Hong Kongers Annual Conference 2022.
Stevo and Faye started their YouTube channel to help Hong Kongers who were considering a move to the UK under the BN(O) scheme, to help people find out more about UK life. They are married and live in the UK – Faye is a Hong Konger with US background while Stevo is British and grew up in Hong Kong. They both speak fluent English and Cantonese.
They hope to help people integrate into the culture here – not just the practical elements of moving to the UK but also really exploring the culture and people. On the Moving Scks channel they share their own experiences of moving from Hong Kong to the UK and introduce people to different aspects of living in this country. Their videos revolve around touring different cities in the UK, practical advice like shopping and eating, also some tips on things like hobbies and buying and driving a car in Britain. They even taste-tests Chinese ready-meals from different UK supermarkets.
The inaugural Welcoming Hong Kongers Annual Conference 2022’ in London recognises the importance of YouTubers to newly-arrived Hong Kongers, interviewing some of these new influencers as part of the conference programme. Also appearing is Youtuber UK Mumma Cheng, who moved to the UK from Hong Kong many years ago and now lives in Kent. Her content revolves around housing and practical tips on living in the UK.
Other Youtubers popular with Hong Kongers in Britain include Bob’s Your Uncle, who has 669,000 subscribers. Bob’s Your Uncle is an exceptionally popular, funny and irreverent take on the Hong Konger channels. He gives insight into all aspects of UK life including property, holidays and eating out.
Read the full report ‘Settling in: Hong Kongers and their new lives in the UK’ below