Since 1945,
immigration to the United Kingdom under
British nationality law has been substantial, in particular from the
Republic of Ireland and from the former
colonies and territories of the
British Empire such as
India,
Bangladesh,
Pakistan, the
Caribbean,
South Africa,
Kenya and
Hong Kong. Other immigrants have come as
asylum seekers, seeking protection as
refugees under the
United Nations 1951 Refugee Convention, or from
member states of the European Union, exercising one of the European Union's
Four Freedoms.