Who is returning to HK, Anecdotal Evidence - Part 1

[shri]

FILTH - "Failed in London. Try Hongkong". Would be interesting to see it being applied to Hongkongers on their return.

Following that, there used to be a "Failed in Hong Kong, try Shanghai" expression .... these days it might be "Failed in London, Try GBA" ...

[FrancisX]

Actually we know 3 couples who left in the first half of the year, two to the UK and one to France/Luxembourg. All were intended to be permanent departures at the time.

One UK couple back already, helped by the fact they both had global jobs which could be done in the UK but both companies ultimately preferred to have them over here. One of the companies was even soft enough to pay for both relocations

Couple in France coming back in January... there is a long narrative but I think they mostly just missed having two helpers / sea view / tennis courts and pool. The other UK bound couple are also now seriously considering coming back.

Definitely not representative, but neither is the totally downbeat attitude so many people on here seem to have.

Again, depends if we are talking expats or locals. Of course many expats left to avoid the covid restrictions and makes sense that they would come back if those restrictions were eased. For locals though, the reasons for leaving superseded Covid and nothing has changed in that respect.

[RobRoy]

There used to be a derogatory expression for white (mostly British) guys who came to HK pre-1997 when they could freely come and work: FILTH - "Failed in London. Try Hongkong". Would be interesting to see it being applied to Hongkongers on their return.

Already heard stories of locals with high paying jobs who have gone to Europe in the belief they could land good jobs overseas. Some are already back in HK wanting their old roles back. I think most HK locals who are middle class would be shocked what middle class in Europe means in terms of after tax salaries and living style. Im very impressed with the ones that go the BNO route and take several notches lower income on the chin and continue to fight - tough people!

[shree711]

A lot of locals will find it hard to integrate and assimilate in other societies that are dissimilar to Chinese ones. Some will be willing to sacrifice their own lives for their children's future and others may choose to return.

[hullexile]

A lot of locals will find it hard to integrate and assimilate in other societies that are dissimilar to Chinese ones. Some will be willing to sacrifice their own lives for their children's future and others may choose to return.

There are many millions of people of Chinese descent all over the world who show it is very possible.

[ndt]

They have built many China towns across the world and if we take a small example of that documentary (Part 1&2), wonderful echo system built by first cohort of locals in a small UK city to welcome and support next cohort of people settle, help find a job etc..

End of the day we hardly need 5-6 people/couple max in our inner circle to survive anywhere, if they can stick together like they have in beginning, not too difficult to assimilate..

[D.YU]

I have a colleague who left 2 years ago came back to hk and back into our company. He brought his wife over with him too.. So thats +2 right there lol

[freeier]

HK has always been transitory cities.. people come people go.. it has always been short of people resources, so tonnes of visas were issued. Whatever shortfall, some guys will want to take up the role if the incentives are good enough. Our company has been hiring fairly senior technical guys from many places, UK, Dubai, Australia, South Africa, India etc.etc... everyone has their own reason of deciding to make the move. Its definitely not a one way street and after some short hiccup i think nobody remembers the 2022 anecdotal events anymore...

[periphery831]

A local HK friend left last year as she feared the worst with the HK government. She moved to England and came back 3 months later stating it was too cold.

[Gatts]

HK has always been transitory cities.. people come people go.. it has always been short of people resources, so tonnes of visas were issued. Whatever shortfall, some guys will want to take up the role if the incentives are good enough. Our company has been hiring fairly senior technical guys from many places, UK, Dubai, Australia, South Africa, India etc.etc... everyone has their own reason of deciding to make the move. Its definitely not a one way street and after some short hiccup i think nobody remembers the 2022 anecdotal events anymore...

You seem to forget that locals the covid controls have nothing to do with the exodus but the crackdowns in 2019 and China ending 1C2S in 2020 is what makes them choose to immigrate, this hasn't stopped at all, and this huge shift is something which has not happened in prior decades.