nHong Kong has never been a static place. Its history is essentially a history of migration. To discuss immigration today by only focusing on recent departures would be incomplete. The roots of Hong Kong’s people are inherently tied to movement.n
nIn the early 19th century, as the port opened, a large number of residents from coastal Guangdong moved south in search of livelihoods. The turmoil of the late Qing Dynasty, including the Taiping Rebellion, wars, and famines, pushed even more people to this small port. Around 1949, a new wave of population influx occurred. Political upheaval and social restructuring led hundreds of thousands to cross the border and rebuild their lives under British rule. During the 1950s and 1960s, Shanghai businessmen and skilled workers migrated south, bringing capital and knowledge that took root. Hong Kong’s industrialization and export economy were co-created by these immigrants and local labor.n
nIn other words, Hong Kongers are essentially descendants of mainland immigrants. The city’s character is built on escaping hardship, seeking livelihoods, and entrepreneurship. Its vitality stems from a do-or-die mentality.n
nBut the story does not end there. After the 1984 Sino-British Joint Declaration, uncertainty spread. From the mid-1980s to before 1997, a large wave of emigration occurred. Canada, Australia, and the UK became primary destinations. Many obtained residency rights and adopted a “astronaut” lifestyle, shuttling between countries. Families were separated, and assets were allocated in both places, serving both as a hedge and a pathway for their children.n
nAfter 1997, a phenomenon of return migration emerged. With economic improvement and increased opportunities, some immigrant families chose to return to Hong Kong. However, the social unrest of 2019, coupled with the implementation of the National Security Law in 2020, triggered a new wave of emigration. The UK introduced the BN(O) visa scheme, with over 180,000 applications by 2025. Canada and Australia also relaxed related arrangements. Mobility has once again become a key theme.n
nIt is noteworthy that Hong Kong people are both immigrants and receivers. During the era of Vietnamese boat people, Hong Kong bore humanitarian pressure. After the 1990s, mainland professionals and students moved south, becoming new blood for the city. In recent years, Southeast Asian and South Asian communities have settled here. Hong Kong’s social structure has always been layered and overlapping.n
nSome say emigration is an escape, others call it betrayal. But looking back over a century, migration is actually a strategy. When circumstances change, people seek new paths. This is neither a moral judgment nor an emotional outburst, but a pragmatic choice. Risk diversification, opportunity comparison, and institutional considerations form the core of decision-making.n
nThe real question is not who leaves, but why generation after generation must constantly weigh the decision to stay or go. When a city’s allure coexists with uncertainty, mobility becomes the norm. Hong Kong’s fate is always linked to both sides of the border.n
nWe are all descendants of immigrants and may be the starting point for the next migration. The city may not empty, but the quality and quantity of its population will change. The issue is not whether to emigrate, but how those who remain will reshape the future of this city.n
