Hong Kong is my home
“My life is in Hong Kong since I stay here", insists John. He arrived in Hong Kong in 2016 for an internship in the banking sector. "I had a lot of misconceptions at that time and believed that speaking English would be enough". However, he learned Cantonese, changed his career, got married, had a child, and started a business with his wife. “Hong Kong changed me. I no longer consider myself an expat but an immigrant who hopes for the best for their new home". John believes that everyday life in Hong Kong isn't as dark as portrayed in the international media. "Of course, we have a lot of concerns, especially due to the national security law. No one knows what's going to happen, but for now, we are living. »
Farah Joo, manager for the American Women Association in Hong Kong (AWA), says that everyday life in Hong Kong remains "incredibly safe for expats with families". She stays optimistic despite the restrictions. "There's a lot to do in Hong Kong. The city has a great infrastructure. Anything can happen so quickly, like finding a place to live, looking for roommates, networking, making new friends, etc. Everything is straightforward in Hong Kong. But my advice would be to start this adventure – like any move abroad – with an open mind". Farah relates the history of the association: “There are so many stories of our members who have had the opportunity to live here, and for whom the experience has been life-changing. There are so many things to do here – incredible restaurants, hiking trails, festivals, islands, historical and cultural sites, etc. The list is endless!" While the Covid has impacted many of these activities, Farah Joo is confident that things will soon return to normal.
Covid-19: An omnipresent threat
Hong Kong currently has a record of nearly 10,000 new cases per day on average. In early March, the city faced its 5th wave, with a hike of Omicron and BA.2 cases: more than 60,000 new cases per day. Restrictions were reinforced, but the population is already exhausted by repeated constraints. This new Covid wave has become a reason for many expatriates to leave. Since the beginning of the year, more than 140,000 expatriates have already left. According to the Hong Kong government, the number of visas currently issued is half that of 2018. More and more ads are posted by expatriates and locals selling their belongings before leaving.
Farah Joo believes that the Covid is a real challenge for everyone. "Our organization depends on the activities we provide to our members, so we have been facing a lot of difficulties due to the restrictions. However, our members' health and safety is our priority. Fortunately, our community is very understanding". Interviewed last February, Marc Guyon, a representative of French expatriates living in Hong Kong and Macao, shares his views. "Things are obviously complicated for me since many of my French friends and clients have already left Hong Kong, and this has had an impact on my social life and on my business". As Marc works in the sports field, more specifically martial arts, he had to close all his clubs because of health restrictions. "I had to convert professionally, but business is picking up now. We're relatively safe, the city is still very international, and many things don't change, like the beautiful landscapes, beaches, mountains, and nature. So I don't think I have any reason at all to leave Hong Kong".
Politics and democracy
Very few people speak openly on this topic. Many expatriates chose to leave due to the strengthening Chinese influence on Hong Kong. Carrie Lam, the chief executive, seems quite uncertain since her strict measures to fight Covid are paralleled by the increasingly strict repression against any form of opposition. China's shadow over Hong Kong is growing as Carrie Lam postponed the elections scheduled for March 27 to May 8.
Is the expat exodus real?
Farah Joo admits that she has seen some change over the past months, but she remains cautious: "I can't comment on what the media is reporting as an expat exodus. But many members of our association have been leaving for longer periods because of this uncertainty. They preferred to be close to their families. With restrictions, tests and other requirements, some are working remotely so that they can take care of their loved ones". John insists that all expats shouldn't be put in the same basket. "Some leave when their contract is over, others want to reunite with their family. But many expats are also coming here to work". Marc Guyon shares the same views: "We must distinguish the reasons for departures – some leave because they have no choice, for example, when their company decides that the conditions in Hong Kong are no longer favorable to their business. Others choose to leave because they can no longer take the health restrictions. I have three nephews/nieces who were born in the last two years, and I haven't met yet because I couldn't go back to France!" While he agrees that many expatriates left because of all these reasons (Covid, social tensions, etc.), he doesn't believe that the exodus is a real thing. "This term seems a little too strong to describe the reality, and also because I still meet a lot of French people who arrive in Hong Kong".
Is Hong Kong still a livable place?
"Of course!", says Anissa. “Hong Kong is beautiful. You have to go to the countryside, away from the hyper centre. Many are unaware of this facet of Hong Kong. Yet, there's a lot of nature and parks here. Hong Kong is full of splendid landscapes". For Marc Guyon agrees that Hong Kong was much better before the pandemic, "but so was the rest of the world". The French entrepreneur definitely intends to stay. "We are well off here. Health restrictions mean that life is not like it used to be; still, we are adapting".
Others, like Anissa, regret the misconceptions about Hong Kong. “Some end up very disappointed here when they are not understood everywhere, even though they only speak English! They make no effort to fit in and criticize everything". Harrow, another expat, confirms this statement: “Where I used to live, the expats kept complaining that you can only find good food in business circles. It broke my heart that they dare to say that in public". Others are harsher and don't even want expats like that anymore. "If you are not able to learn Cantonese and open up to the local culture and values, you won't fit in here. Stop thinking like expats". Serge agrees that expats need to stop betting everything on English and look for expat communities only. "I know it's reassuring at first, but it's a trap when it lasts. Many talk about the legendary hospitality of the Hong Konger population. Still, expats hardly make efforts to adapt".
The future of immigration in Hong Kong
John is optimistic: "I don't know for how long, but I'm going to stay here as long as I can". Anissa believes it is illusory to think that it was better before. On the contrary, she believes in a new democratic surge. “When all seems lost, we need to buck up and keep fighting". "Mainland China will continue to play a double game constraining Hong Kong, but not to the point of suffocating it, and becoming totally despicable in the eyes of other countries. “Indeed, with the violation of human rights, threats to freedom of expression, restrictions, etc., Hong Kong is no longer a dreamland. In the latest ECA International livable cities survey, Hong Kong dropped to 77th. But Marc Guyon considers this a temporary situation. “Hong Kong also took a big hit during SARS. But expats who chose to stay benefited from the sharp drop in real estate prices, then from the strong growth". While he believes that China will have a more and more significant influence on Hong Kong, he doesn't think that it's such a bad thing after all. "Adaptation is the key".
