WI: Hong Kong population resettled in Northern Ireland

The UK government entertained the idea of resettling 5.5 million Hong Kongers in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. The site chosen was Magilligan. Apparently the idea was these likely pro-Unionist Chinese would secure Ulster for the UK. Even if a fraction of this number arrived, they would greatly outnumber the opposition. Would this kill two birds with one stone?

If this was implemented, why not extend the program to Scotland?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news...ing-55m-hong-kong-chinese-in-northern-ireland
 

oberdada

Gone Fishin'
What did they plan to do with the original HK? Blow it up for a Gaza Style scorched earth retreat?
 

jocay

Banned
If anything, it would fuel the renaissance of Ulster nationalism and lead to the resettled Hong Kongers facing major reprisals from both sides. They'd be viewed as settlers and collaborators brought by an uncaring government.
 
That’s why they chose the site, to start a new city.

Although I see your plan, between the prison, the nature reserve and the firing range how much land is there that's actually safe and legal to build on?

Realistically the only place to put them is somewhere around Belfast/Lisburn and keep building (numbers depending) until you've joined the two into one city but there's still a lot of issues even if you can build all the houses - you're going to swamp the local doctors/hospitals and schools for example and these thousands of people need jobs that were in already in short supply for a lot of people in NI in the 1980s.
 
Well, if they basically start their own city from zero, they won't be stealing anyone's jobst, at least not for a while....

But is this even logistically plausibe? How would the Hong Kongers feel about being re-settled to NI? I guess it would take something really extreme (like the existance of a genocidal Kmher- Rouge-like PRC threatening to take control of the city) to pull this off.
 
Where's the money to build the housing and infrastructure for 5 million new Northern Irish? Not to mention, is there even enough water for them?
 
Well why couldn't they just make a "Magilligan Walled City" like M79 suggested? If you're not doing things properly up to code, alot can be done. done badly or going wrong yes, but it's doable.
 
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