Mainland Chinese Professionals Flock to Hong Kong Amid Exodus of Local Talent
In response to a crackdown on civil liberties in Hong Kong, tens of thousands of professionals have left the city, but their departure is being offset by a new wave of arrivals from mainland China. Hong Kong’s Top Talent Pass Scheme, introduced in late 2022, has attracted tens of thousands of visa applications from mainland Chinese, with the majority of successful applicants coming from China.
For mainland Chinese professionals, Hong Kong offers unique advantages such as greater freedom of speech and internet access, a cosmopolitan atmosphere, a more relaxed work culture, and a society where meritocracy prevails. In interviews with The Associated Press, 20 mainland Chinese visa holders expressed their attraction to these qualities.
One finance professional, Wu, in his 20s, saw moving to Hong Kong as an opportunity to gain more freedom and security. Wu, who requested anonymity due to fear of government repercussions, felt a sense of panic during the COVID-19 pandemic when he experienced unpredictable lockdowns in Beijing. Although tempted to join protests against China’s strict COVID-19 measures, he chose to “run,” a popular Chinese euphemism for emigrating. He moved to Hong Kong during the summer and referred to the city as his “lifeboat.”
In recent years, public dissent in mainland China has been increasingly curtailed under the leadership of Xi Jinping. While Hong Kong’s civil liberties have also eroded following the imposition of the national security law in 2020, the city still retains Western-style freedoms, reflecting its history as a former colony. China had promised to maintain these freedoms for 50 years after the 1997 handover.
Wu, like many Hong Kong residents, desires freedom of speech and appreciates the city’s relatively lower presence of fervent nationalists compared to Beijing. He also values the ability to move his money freely and access the internet without resorting to virtual private networks (VPNs) to bypass censorship prevalent in mainland China.
The political climate in Hong Kong, including the national security law and the crackdown on pro-democracy activists, has contributed to a decline in the city’s population from 7.5 million in mid-2019 to 7.3 million in mid-2022. International businesses and banks have also been relocating.
It remains unclear how many Hong Kong residents have permanently left the city and how many departures were specifically due to political reasons. However, more than 123,800 individuals have relocated to Britain, and thousands have gained permanent residency in Canada under special policies for Hong Kong residents after the implementation of the security law.
The Top Talent Pass Scheme aims to mitigate the brain drain by attracting mainland Chinese professionals. As per the immigration department, about 37,000 applications from mainland China have been approved, although it is unknown how many have already arrived in the city. Before the program’s launch, approximately 135,000 mainland Chinese had been residing in Hong Kong for less than seven years as of 2021. Many others have become permanent residents after residing in the city for over seven years.
Fresh graduate Zhang Guangwei, 22, turned down job offers in mainland China to work as a software developer in Hong Kong, seeking to escape the notorious “996” working culture, where employees work from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., six days a week. Zhang appreciates his Hong Kong job’s comparatively better work-life balance, allowing him spare time for outdoor activities and socializing.
Most mid-career professionals interviewed by The Associated Press highlighted Hong Kong’s educational opportunities for their children as the main motivation for their relocation. Monica Wang, a 39-year-old businesswoman from Zhuhai, was enticed by Hong Kong’s freedom of speech and portrayal in media as a modern city embracing diverse lifestyles. She hopes to explore new career options in Hong Kong.
Despite the narrowing leeway for dissent and free speech in Hong Kong, most of those interviewed by AP remain undeterred due to the city’s still relatively wider freedoms compared to mainland China. Wang even sees the national security law as a means to create a safer environment.
While the influx of mainland Chinese professionals may alleviate the brain drain in some sectors, experts believe it may not fully compensate for the loss of talent across various industries. Simon Lee, an honorary fellow at the Chinese University of Hong Kong’s Asia-Pacific Institute of Business, highlights the medical sector’s loss of experienced professionals who cannot be easily replaced by doctors without local training.
The impact of the influx of mainland Chinese on Hong Kong’s future remains uncertain, as it depends on the interactions between the newcomers and local residents. While not all new arrivals can speak Cantonese, the native language of many Hong Kong residents, some can secure employment quickly due to the increasing prominence of Mandarin in the city since the 1997 handover.
Throughout its history, Hong Kong has been a destination for migrants from mainland China seeking better opportunities. While some were refugees fleeing civil war, poverty, or communism, many others came in search of brighter prospects. The experiences of new arrivals like Wu demonstrate the interplay between their aspirations and the evolving dynamics of Hong Kong society.
Wu acknowledges that his local friends and Hong Kong media outlets have become more cautious since his arrival. If the government further tightens controls and the political atmosphere becomes suffocating, Wu plans to stay for the required seven years to obtain permanent residency, after which he states there is a high probability that he will leave.
