Over 100,000 people have emigrated from Hong Kong since the National Security Law was passed in 2020. The Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department reported that the net outflow of Hong Kong residents reached 60,000 in 2022. Peter Tse, director of the International Immigration and Property Expo (II&PE), believes that the number of emigrants will continue to rise, citing an increase in the number of seminars on immigration and overseas homeownership held in the past six months compared to the previous exhibition.
The top three destinations for Hong Kong emigrants are the UK, Canada, and Australia, reflecting the attractive immigration policies these countries have for Hong Kong people. The II&PE conducted an online survey among registered visitors, showing that 63% of respondents plan to immigrate within one to two years.
The top three destinations for Hong Kong emigrants are the UK, Canada, and Australia, reflecting the attractive immigration policies these countries have for Hong Kong people. The II&PE conducted an online survey among registered visitors, showing that 63% of respondents plan to immigrate within one to two years.
When asked about their top concerns when emigrating, more than half of the respondents chose “personal employment” (52%), followed by “children’s education” (14%). The UK BNO visa scheme for Hong Kong residents, launched in January 2021, has seen a drop in applications, with 15,600 submitted in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Scholar Chung Kim-wah predicts that the wave of emigration will continue for at least three to four years, although it is not as sharp as the previous two years.
Scholar Chung Kim-wah predicts that the wave of emigration will continue for at least three to four years, although it is not as sharp as the previous two years.
