Now, as the government plans to test the entire city of 7.5 million and looks to use about 10,000 hotel rooms as government isolation facilities, some are accelerating their plans to leave as the threat of being pulled aside for quarantine grows stronger. To answer this question, lets examine the circumstances driving many of these expatriates to leave Hong Kong. The governments website lists countries that accept BNOs. They will have to wait until 30 June 1997 before their visa expires to use it. After calling Hong Kong home for 30 years, Tina, a self-employed mom, is calling it quits on the city and moving to Portugal. Ive made the most amazing friends, some who are still here and others who have also had to move on. All rights reserved. The organisation's president has told the BBC she has now left Hong Kong. "Even if I wanted to go back, I couldn't," she said about the city she's called home for the past 20 years. But executives say . Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month for the first 3 months. Apps that help categorize businesses have been suspended or blocked, and people are preemptively censoring their online content. Different business entities would have different reasons to stay or otherwise, but I think figures also speak for themselves, he said, adding that the number of overseas firms with regional offices in Hong Kong has remained steady at about 9,000. After moving back to the UK, I accepted my fate and settled down to life in Blighty. Hundreds of thousands of expatriates who left the Chinese territory this year said that they understood why Hong Kong was a place they once adored, but is now turning into another metropolitan hub in mainland China. Now its been dubbed a hardship posting and Singapore landlords are reaping the benefits. In Singapore, soaring prices mean some would-be expats are having to reconsider their plans. P.C. However, a B.N. That compares to 26% of the companies surveyed saying they are considering relocating. 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As to the National Security Law, its not just that, but also the rise of illiberal values as Hong Kong becomes more closely integrated into China, said one respondent quoted in the survey. The Big Take is the very best of Bloomberg's in-depth, original reporting from around the globe every day. But the U.K. is now opening its doors to Hong Kong residents with foreign keys, giving them a more extended stay in the country and a path to citizenship. Indeed, not everybody feels safe and secure under the security law. Pro-democracy activists shouldnt be able to bar people from demonstrating in the streets. Although the system is now closed for applications, the process is not yet over. The sentiment among many expatriates has turned from benign to sour, largely triggered by excessive Covid measures that stirred fear and anger, yet stillfailed to keep the city safe. Hong Kong has doubled down on "zero-Covid-19". We had a wonderful seven-plus years in Hong Kong as a family and, when my father had to relocate back to the UK, I cried again. This censorship has resulted in illegal assembly and sedition cases brought under colonial-era sedition laws. They had a more minor stake in the city than Hongkongers and were reluctant to give up their cosmopolitan lifestyles. Although there are many different types of apartments, they all share several important characteristics. Moving a 20ft container to Britain now costs upwards of HK$150,000 (S$25,800). Is it Hard to Get a Job in Hong Kong Without a Visa? The number of people expected to apply for BNO visas will reach 300,000 within five years. A recent report from the European Chamber of Commerce in the city said that Hong Kong's isolation could last into 2024, and that it anticipates an unprecedented exodus of foreigners as a result. House & Home Hong Kong's expat party continues but for how long? However, the actual toll is two million infections and 4.3 million deaths. Thirty-five percent of respondents had, Read More Are Most Hong Kong Residents Moving to Other Countries?Continue, Do all Hong Kong residents live in apartments? Despite the danger, some still leave Hong Kong for their safety. The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong pointed to border closures as a major issue for those surveyed. Many ex-pats went home for a few months this year. Hong Kong's expat party continues but for how long? Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team. https://www.law.com/international-edition/2022/02/10/hong-kong-the-great-departure/. She wonders what the reasons are behind this sudden increase in exodus. Like this? Even before the pandemic, some expats were looking to move because of the protests and during the pandemic, of course, less people were moving to Hong Kong. That strategy, which has long required weeks-long quarantines for all arrivals, is becoming even stricter as the city battles a surge in infections that has crossed into more than 6,000 daily cases. Buying a Home in California Is Already Hard. Yet another expat said he and his spouse were put off by an increase in anti-foreigner sentiment in the media and government statements, as well as reduced long-term career opportunities for foreigners in the city. But with 10. This document symbolizes Hong Kongs unique identity since reuniting with the motherland. Yesterday and, Ill admit, this morning too I found myself crying again. After 1997, China did not recognize dual nationality for British citizens. HK police charge former aircrew over Covid rules, Hong Kong pilots stuck in 'perpetual quarantine', Cathay Pacific imposes tough Covid rules on crew, Mystery of a deadly boat accident on an Italian lake, Why Indian politicians woo the diaspora in the US. More than 40% of expats surveyed by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong say they're considering moving away from the former British colony as China's influence grows and the city. About 52% of those who planned to leave Hong Kong said they would leave within a short time frame, or as soon as they could relocate. Expatriates grew weary of the strict government and the censorship that followed. Exciting summer programmes for kids in HK and abroad! However, the chances of becoming a Chinese national are slim without relatives. Hong Kong has also prohibited gatherings and flights from several countries, contributing to the brain drain. The BNO visa was not in much use before 2020. Michael Smith is the North Asia correspondent for The Australian Financial Review. Two crushing years of the pandemic, with no immediate relief in sight, have left Hong Kong a city of perpetual crisis. This privilege is also extended to regular Hong Kong passport holders without BNO status. Aussie expat Nic, with daughter Adelaide, says it just no longer made sense to call Hong Kong home. After a qualifying five-year period, Hong Kong residents with a BNO visa can apply for indefinite leave to remain in the U.K. To qualify for this, Hong Kong BNO visa holders must have lived in the U.K. continuously for five years, during which time they have not been absent from the country for more than 180 days in twelve months. Singapore has become a difficult and expensive place to live.. 'All our close friends are leaving': Covid - Hong Kong Free Press Younger and middle-class Hong Kong professionals have increasingly aligned with the pro-democracy movement, but many fear their arrest and jail time. BoConcept celebrates a decade in Hong Kong! All those countries were stunning in many ways, but it was always so wonderful to come home. Read this subscriber-only article for free! State Farms Exit Makes It Harder. Here, British expat CATHERINE COOPER shares her story of living in, and leaving Hong Kong, and why it's hard to say goodbye to what has become her much-loved home. The high cost of moving pets also means that shelters are full as many owners choose to leave them behind. Here are some reasons why. Ive just put someone in a studio apartment near Orchard Rd. Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. Are Most Hong Kong Residents Moving to Other Countries? Those who are leaving are encountering slim pickings when it comes to flights. Among the many emigrants, activist Tommy Lam faces imminent jail time for his involvement in the pro-democracy movement. China and Hong Kong joined the scheme in 2018, allowing them to receive addresses, tax . Chicago Sued Over Deal to Lease Public Land toEx-Mayors Billionaire Donor, Bitcoin Faces Fresh Challenges After Debt Deal Moves Forward, Citigroup Warns, FTX Objects to Extension of Mediation Talks for Bankrupt Crypto Lender Genesis, Key House Republicans Unveil Crypto Market Structure Draft Bill. (O) passport. If you want something for the same money, you will be downsizing., Im not taking any new clients on at the moment. Hong Kong. China has a stricter policy toward dual citizenship, and it is not unusual for some of the citys wealthiest people to secretly hold a foreign passport. But it proved to be insufficient. Contact Us| Now, it could take double the time, with shipments delayed as much as 120 days because some firms wait for prices to drop before they ship. COVID-19 restrictions have fueled the exodus. These expats said national security was a norm in todays world. And we are certainly not getting luxury.. But Hong Kong has been and will always be such a very special place to me births, deaths and growing up as both a child and as an adult. If passed, the law would also ban foreign interference and terrorism. We consider ourselves lucky. PDF Should I Stay or Should I Go? A Temperature Testing Survey of Expats in I cried. With this subscription you will receive unlimited access to high quality, online, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry. For more than two-and-a-half years, people have not been able to leave the city without enduring hotel quarantine on return. Photo: Winson Wong This can be done either by telephone or sending an email to taxinfo@ird.gov.hk stating your name, HKID number and file number. May 2021 Tara JosephAmCham President Foreword People ask me every day whether expats are leaving Hong Kong following the stress of the 2019 violent protests, the passing of the National Security Law, recent electoral reform, and strict COVID-19 quarantine measures. The Asian financial hub has some of the world's tightest coronavirus rules as it follows mainland China's tough zero-Covid policies. In the first two years of the COVID pandemic, Hong Kong logged 13,000 new cases and two hundred and thirty-three deaths. use about 10,000 hotel rooms as government isolation facilities, Overwhelmed hospitals show Hong Kong wasted Covid-19 edge, Hong Kong hospitals buckle under Covid-19 wave, patients sleep outdoors in tents, HK to mass test whole city for Covid-19: Local media, HK seeks property tycoons' help to house Covid-19 patients. Although people in Hong Kong were probably thrilled at the prospect of independence from colonial rule, they should also be proud of their new Chinese passport. I dont want to continue to fear saying or writing something that could unknowingly cause me to be arrested.. Moving checklist: 6 things every expat should do before leaving Hong Kong Not tears of sadness but tears of joy. Were not hearing companies moving away, but they are reviewing contingency plans if in the future they may decide to move, Jeff Nankivell, the consul general of Canada in Hong Kong and Macau, told Hong Kong media last week. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. (O) passports, the U.K. government has offered a path to citizenship for Hong Kong citizens. (O) passports were issued on the condition that their holders had the right of habitation in Hong Kong. This provision has since been deleted. This has caused concern among expatriates and prompted them to leave Hong Kong. Should Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong Have the Right to Vote? That compares to 26% of the companies surveyed saying they are . Events such as the Hong Kong Rugby Sevens, due to take place in November, will struggle to attract the international crowds it used to, even without hotel quarantine. Options are limited as major airlines have stopped or reduced flights to Hong Kong due to the city's quarantine rules for air crew and penalties for airlines that carry too many infected passengers. While they would not usually need a BNO passport, it may come in handy if they plan to visit the U.K. or another country. The Big Take is the very best of Bloomberg's in-depth, original reporting from around the globe every day. A 40 per cent hike is not uncommon. She moved back to Perth in mid-2020 due to the pandemic and worked remotely. The regulations, designed to align with Beijings zero-COVID policy, include a lengthy quarantine requirement for visitors. It is an offensive strategy for us.. It has given me love and heartbreak, but all the while caring for me and giving so much more than it could ever take away. 202120748H. We spoke to three Hong Kong expatriates to get their thoughts. As a result, there have been numerous reports in international media about an exodus and brain drain from the city. Foreigners are leaving Hong Kong, believe it's turning into mainland He added that Hong Kong still had an advantage in its rule of law, judicial independence and free flow of information, talent and capital. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you. The price to transport the three dogs and a cat will add an additional US$30,000 or more to her costs. Whether youre a student, a graduate, or a recent college graduate, you can find a job in Hong Kong. The Chinese Communist Party has effectively crushed the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong and has pushed its political and social system to the brink of collapse. The restrictions have also hit headhunters and businesses hard, as their ability to hire talented locals is restricted. While many are fleeing Hong Kong because of the situation, others cant see the point in staying in a place where they feel afraid to express themselves. As a result, the authorities have effectively shut down a large sector of the economy and the citys lucrative tourism industry. Companies leaving Hong Kong are eyeing Singapore - Fortune However, the survey also said businesses are upbeat when it comes to their prospects in the city. Hong Kong journalist Sarah Liang, a reporter with the Epoch Times linked to the Falun Gong, a spiritual movement banned on the mainland, was attacked by a man wielding a baseball bat near her home in Ho Man Tin at about 11:30 am on Tuesday. I was nine years old and at boarding school when my parents came to see me one Sunday afternoon to tell me we would be moving to Hong Kong. All these factors have driven people to consider emigration. Ultimately, a thriving economy will require many skilled workers, but Hong Kong is not attracting enough to meet demand. Best International Schools In Hong Kong, Primary to Secondary, Choosing a university and finding the right fit. Tina is currently reserved on a flight to Amsterdam the first week of March and has given her landlord notice. I go to the supermarket and the notice board has a lot more relocation sales of Mercedes and BMWs.. Yesterday, my Employment Pass was approved, which means that in 33 days I will once again be saying goodbye to this amazing territory I call home. And the security law imposed by the government has made life more difficult for expatriates. The British National Overseas passport, or BNO, was once considered an obsolete travel document until the Hong Kong government confirmed the Reuters report. Yue added that all the intangible factors connectivity,a laissez-faireenvironment, international flair, cosmopolitan society, cultural diversity that make Hong Kong an evolving, thriving and welcoming city for global citizens to invest, work and live in, remained intact. The reverse is happening in Hong Kong as the harbour city loses its lustre for expatriates who used to be drawn in by high-paying banking jobs and homes on the peak. Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Hong Kong is experiencing a record drop in population as tens of thousands of residents have moved to such countries as the U.K., the U.S., Canada and Australia. Big Take: Why Expat Bankers Are Leaving Hong Kong - Bloomberg 3:30 3-Minute Listen Playlist Download Embed Transcript Hong Kong's autonomy from China has eroded, and the city has. Hong Kong's expat bankers spurred to leave by ruined Christmas by David Rothnie 18 January 2022 The pressure of Hong Kong's tough quarantine laws have proved to be the final straw for one expat banker. Despite a lack of certainty about future immigration trends, the move to extend the rights of BNO passport holders may lead to more acceptance among U.K. allies. My advice to clients whose lease is ending is that anything less than a 30 per cent increase is about as good as you can hope for. In addition to the CNL, applicants must present proof of their net worth and professional achievements demonstrating that they have the resources to support themselves and their dependents in the country. The Chinese Communist Party has been repressing the publics right to free speech. In those years, Ive watched my nieces grow up, and Ive waved them goodbye as they departed for the US. In February, a pro-democracy newspaper called Apple Daily was arrested and prosecuted for cooperation with foreign forces. Although Chinese officials were concerned about the citys reversion, they have refrained from making any pronouncements or becoming involved in Hong Kong affairs. Interactive camps for budding journalists and more! What to watch this month Netflix & more! Prof Schirmer, who has four pets, will not be able to take all of them on a commercial flight due to limits, and is now planning to travel with her elderly dog on a private jet while the others fly as excess baggage and cargo. with "an unprecedented number of expatriates leaving or planning to leave the city over the past few years . You see, Id been born in Hong Kong but had left at the ripe old age of five months. Do Indians Need a Transit Visa for Hong Kong? Health problems: The recent COVID outbreak has caused the second epidemic of ex-pat exodus stories in Hong Kong. After a slow couple of pandemic years, landlords are increasing rental prices substantially. Despite concerns, freedom of association and assembly remains a fundamental human right in Hong Kong. 3:30 Download Embed Enlarge this image Kevin Tranbarger poses with his two children outside the Hong Kong International Airport in July, before they left for the United. Dynamically explore and compare data on law firms, companies, individual lawyers, and industry trends. Construction is picking up after being slowed down by the pandemic, but he does not expect conditions to ease this year. I love the fact that its never truly cold (even if it does dip to 21 degrees on occasion), and I already have some friends there so I know I will be fine. The decision will allow those who hold the B.N. HONG KONG Around 42% of expatriates are considering leaving Hong Kong, with most saying they are uncomfortable with the new national security law imposed by Beijing on the city, according to a survey conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce.
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