Waves of mass migrations from Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Mass Migration Wave was one of the waves of emigration of Hong Kong residents since the Second World War, accelerated by the Hong Kong 1967 Leftist Riots and extending into the 1980s and 1990s fuelled by Tiananmen Square protests of 1989. By some estimates, the number of emigrants was in tens of thousands in this period.

History

Traditional ways of life in the Indigenous inhabitants villages in the New Territories collapsed at the end of WWII. Unable to earn a living in the newly industrialised economy of post-war Hong Kong, many villagers exercised their right of abode in the United Kingdom and left for Europe.

In 1967, a series of large-scale riots erupted in Hong Kong, causing social instability. These events led some of the richer Hong Kong residents to move abroad. Emigration took place to countries in Southeast Asia, South Africa or South American countries. This wave did not come to a rest until the mid-1970s.

On 19 December 1984, the People's Republic of China and the United Kingdom signed the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and validated the 1997 transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong to China. The declaration prompted emigration of the Hongkongers. The British government made it clear that Hong Kong citizens would not be granted British citizenship on the grounds that they were residing in a British colony, so instead, numerous residents sought alternate arrangements and migrated to other countries.

The 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre in Beijing triggered mass migration in the 1990s. Canada, Australia, and other Commonwealth realms were the primary destinations for migrants at the time. In particular, popular cities for migrants included Metro Vancouver and the Greater Toronto Area in Canada, Sydney and Melbourne in Australia, and London in the UK. To a lesser extent, other immigrant destinations included San Francisco and New York in the US, as well as several Asian cities including Singapore, a former British colony. At the height of the mass migration wave, some small states like Cape Verde advertised their passport in magazines. Some foreign embassies took bribes for giving out passports, amounting to outright political corruption.

Some people had relocated overseas through studying abroad and staying after graduation, while others simply obtained returning residency visa from the destination country, which was issued by some countries with no conditions attached in the late 1980s, and then returned to Hong Kong. Informed estimates range from 250,000 to one million people, with the peak years of outflow between 1988 and 1994 of about 55,000 per year.

In 1990, the outflow of people reached a peak of 62,000 people or about 1% of the population. The emigration rate would reach the peak in 1992 with 66,000 people, followed by 53,000 in 1993, and 62,000 in 1994. An estimated flowed from Hong Kong to Canada directly as a result.

From 1998, one year after the transfer of sovereignty, some Hong Kong-born emigrants returned to Hong Kong with foreign citizenship. The phenomenon is called "" (Hong Kong returning tidal flow).

In 2011, the estimated migration rate reached a peak. In Hong Kong, over 65 percent of Hong Kong permanent residents desired to migrate to other countries in a survey conducted by the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

2020–present: Post-national security law

Following the implementation of the national security law on 1 July 2020, Nathan Law, a prominent activist, fled Hong Kong and sparked speculation that a large wave of emigration was imminent. Said law has been interpreted by some as a means to persecute individuals for participating in the 2019–2020 Hong Kong protests.

A number of nations have moved to expedite the immigration process and/or grant refugee status to many Hong Kong emigrants, including Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Australia announced that students from Hong Kong would be eligible for a 5 year temporary graduate visa after completing "eligible" tertiary studies, leading to a pathway to permanent residency after 5 years. A five year visa is also available to certain high priority temporary skilled workers. The UK announced a pathway for British Nationality (Overseas) citizens as well as certain dependents; up to three million Hongkongers have or are eligible to obtain nationality.

Canada

Canada announced new ways for Hongkongers to immigrate and changes for refugees.
Hongkongers who graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution worldwide in the last five years could apply for a 3-year open work permit. Their spouse or partner or children could also apply to come with them.
Hongkongers living in Canada who have graduated from a "recognized Canadian learning institution" in the last 3 years could apply for permanent resident immigration.
Hongkongers living in Canada who have graduated from a "recognized Canadian learning institution" or a post-graduate programme worldwide, and has worked a year in Canada within the last five years could apply for permanent resident immigration.
Study permit applications would be expedited.
Failed refugee claims no longer have to wait one year to apply for re-assessment.
No one would be disqualified by being charged under the national security law.
Applications would be processed faster.
Canadians in Hong Kong could return at any time, and their documents would be processed faster. Family members in Hong Kong of Canadians could travel to Canada under the current exemptions from travel restrictions.

United Kingdom

In January 2021, the UK government introduced a new visa scheme for holders of the British National (Overseas) passport. The measure, intended to help Hongkongers escape the territory after the imposition of the security law, was denounced by the Chinese government, which said it would no longer recognise the BNO passport.

By the end of 2021, around 88,000 Hongkongers had applied for the visa.

See also

*History of Hong Kong
*Demographics of Hong Kong
*Hong Kong returnee
*British nationality law and Hong Kong
* Brain drain
*Yacht people

References

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History of Hong Kong