London border authorities granted Hong Kong activist Wu Chi-wai only seven days of immigration bail after his arrival last Wednesday, leaving him due for removal on Wednesday instead of staying with family for months.
Wu said officials suspected he might seek long-term residency rather than make a short visit, despite his return ticket to Hong Kong having originally been booked for November.
The former lawmaker, jailed 4 years and 5 months in Hong Kong's biggest national security case, said the shortened stay could hurt future travel and urged the Home Office to reverse the decision.
The Home Office declined to discuss the case but said Britain remains committed to supporting Hong Kongers; more than 230,000 have obtained the UK's special visa route and over 9,800 have secured settlement.
Wu, whose wife and son moved to Britain in 2022, said he is not seeking asylum and now wants to focus on family reunification rather than political activity.