1991-2021 - Demographic Trends

[GentleGeorge]

Poor choice of comparison.

Fine substitute Japan then. Or basically any other wealthy country except America.

[shri]

Going back to the age issue .. this is the census department's view:

2.5 The age structure of a population depends, to
a large extent, on past trends in fertility and population
movement; the impact of mortality is generally of less
importance. In a growing population with high rates of
fertility, the number of people in any age group is
normally smaller than that in the preceding younger age
group and hence the population’s age structure takes on
the shape of a pyramid. However, this regular pattern
can be distorted by fluctuations in the components of
population change, such as population movement.

2.7 The population has shown a continuing
dejuvenation and ageing trend in the past 30 years. The
number and proportion of the population aged under 15
have fallen markedly, reflecting the sustained reduction
in fertility rates. This is also observed from the
shrinking base of the pyramids. A similar phenomenon
has also appeared in the age group of 15–24. On the
contrary, the proportion of persons aged 65 and over
(excluding foreign domestic helpers) increased from
8.9% in 1991 to 20.5% in 2021 owing to population
ageing. (Table 2.2)

2.8 While there has been a significant reduction in
the school age population, the number of persons of
retirement age has risen substantially. The overall effect
of these two changes is that the median age of the
population (excluding foreign domestic helpers)
increased from 31.6 in 1991 to 47.3 in 2021. (Table 2.2)

From the original document: https://www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/data/...00.pdf?noembed

Also spotted in there .. the number of live births is at its lowest in 2021, from 1991.

And something obvious ... men are dying faster than women.

[ndt]

Fine substitute Japan then. Or basically any other wealthy country except America.

Nice cherry picking from simple google search, get first search result, selecti two out of top 4 and then generalise to any other wealthy country..

Before you spin further, EU is dead anyway so no point comparing any country with Hong Kong, Asia's world city has real comparison with Asian cities or more relevant its favourite arch-rival Singapore.. If you want to go further, compare with Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia..

https://www.worlddata.info/average-age.php

[7jai]

Wait a second, the border from China to Hong Kong has been open since 2021. It's only travel from Hong Kong to China that's still restricted. So what were they waiting for?

All borders are technically open across the globe. The problem is that there are still restrictions to cross borders especially within China/HK/Macau. That's the issue.

When you remove all restrictions and go back to free flow of people, start processing visas again at full speed, and also add incentives on something that already has a huge pent up demand, it will come.

Also it was difficult to "leave" China during COVID restrictions. The very wealthy left because they could afford to do whatever they want to do. It's the middle-upper class people who couldn't. Now that they've seen what has happened these last 3 years, they are now considering if their home is really the right place for them and their families. They will (and probably have) started to look to emigrate elsewhere. Easiest route would be to HK because it's still connected to China but offers a foreign system vs. what they have in China. It's also the easiest transition vs. moving elsewhere on the globe as there are many familiarities in food, culture, people, language, etc. Many would look elsewhere in the world, but with so many anti-chinese sentiment everywhere, it would be a bit more difficult and challenging.

[7jai]

Nice cherry picking from simple google search, get first search result, selecti two out of top 4 and then generalise to any other wealthy country..

Before you spin further, EU is dead anyway so no point comparing any country with Hong Kong, Asia's world city has real comparison with Asian cities or more relevant its favourite arch-rival Singapore.. If you want to go further, compare with Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia..

https://www.worlddata.info/average-age.php

Every country has its pros and cons. Depends on what your beliefs are and what environment fits you/your loved ones best.

I agree that comparing HK to EU or anything very foreign is not a good comparison. Hong Kong's closest equivalent would be Singapore in terms of business systems, tax laws, ways of working, transportation, population size (5.9M vs. 7.4M), geographical size (719 sq km vs. 1,108 sq km), public housing vs. private housing system, etc.

[ndt]

Also it was difficult to "leave" China during COVID restrictions. The very wealthy left because they could afford to do whatever they want to do. It's the middle-upper class people who couldn't. Now that they've seen what has happened these last 3 years, they are now considering if their home is really the right place for them and their families. They will (and probably have) started to look to emigrate elsewhere. Easiest route would be to HK because it's still connected to China but offers a foreign system vs. what they have in China. It's also the easiest transition vs. moving elsewhere on the globe as there are many familiarities in food, culture, people, language, etc. Many would look elsewhere in the world, but with so many anti-chinese sentiment everywhere, it would be a bit more difficult and challenging.

And you think home is not right place for them and families but HK is!! What is this foreign system in HK that they dont have in China or vise-a-versa!! And Anti-Mainlander sentiment is not in HK!! And you think next time something like Covid happens again, policies in China will be different from HK!! Which planet have you been living!!

[ndt]

Every country has its pros and cons. Depends on what your beliefs are and what environment fits you/your loved ones best.

I agree that comparing HK to EU or anything very foreign is not a good comparison. Hong Kong's closest equivalent would be Singapore in terms of business systems, tax laws, ways of working, transportation, population size (5.9M vs. 7.4M), geographical size (719 sq km vs. 1,108 sq km), public housing vs. private housing system, etc.

Dude what exactly are you trying to say? My post was simply pointing to median age by country and GG's cherry picking, what does belief and environment for loved ones has to do with it?

[shri]

Before you spin further, EU is dead anyway so no point comparing any country with Hong Kong, Asia's world city has real comparison with Asian cities or more relevant its favourite arch-rival Singapore.. If you want to go further, compare with Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia..

The govt data has comparisons with what are termed as similar "low fertility" economies. Added: Table 3.8 in the PDF

Dude what exactly are you trying to say? My post was simply pointing to median age by country and GG's cherry picking, what does belief and environment for loved ones has to do with it?

Me thinks one should be looking at the cultural/socio-economic changes related to women, birth rates more than #patrioticvibes from the OP ... there is a trend...

[D.YU]

yawn. This is hardly news. Low birth rate and aging population has been haunting hong kong for a decade already. I am not sure the exodus is making an impact to the average population age since I see people of all age groups leaving HK. With a majority being Family (parents around 3X to 4X and children). However, the old farts over 60 are probably not keen on relocating.

[sarsi]

Oh no.. ..when did this happen.. :O

favourite arch-rival Singapore

Sure it's usually the one used for comparing, closer country indicators but that's just ad hoc when the topic pops up.. HK don't get carried away and start weaving tale of my destined rival to defeat.. no need for such thing for any country but if you must.. pls aim higher..

I think this is SCMP's doing..they did the rankings article and highlighted hk lagging behind sg. then the guy w the facebook got upset and disagreed w the rankings and scmp decided to continue stirring the shit by reporting on that and before you know it there's commentary and viewpoint on how to boost tourism vs sg and then and then and then 150 years later there'll be some border dispute over water pipes and village wars ;p