Former Democratic Party Chairman Wu Chi-wai Granted Temporary Entry to UK on Immigration Bail

Former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai has been granted temporary entry to the United Kingdom under immigration bail, allowing him to remain in the country for seven days. He may face deportation as early as this Wednesday.

According to reports, Wu arrived at London Heathrow Airport and was initially detained by border officials. He was later permitted to enter the UK under the “immigration bail” arrangement, which limits his stay to one week. The arrangement has forced him to shorten his original plan of spending several months with his family.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Wu stated that he is not seeking political asylum in Britain. He explained that his primary purpose for travelling to the UK is to reunite with his wife and children, who moved there in 2022. He said he had communicated with relevant British authorities before his departure, but still faced questions upon arrival about whether he intended to seek long-term residence.

Wu, 63, expressed concern that the incident could affect his ability to visit his family in the UK in the future. He hoped the UK Home Office would reconsider its decision.

Wu was released from prison on June 30, 2026, after serving a four-year-and-five-month sentence for conspiracy to subvert state power in connection with the 2019 democratic primary (the “35+” case). He left Hong Kong less than a month after his release.

During his imprisonment, Wu said he was only allowed to speak with his family for 10 minutes each month, and letter exchanges took about a month. After years in prison and the successive deaths of his parents, he stated that he no longer intends to engage in political activities. His current priority is to rebuild his life and spend time with his family.

Wu has a long political career spanning nearly three decades. He previously served as a District Councillor, Legislative Councillor, and chairman of the now-disbanded Democratic Party.