News Source : Bloomberg
Hong Kong’s population shrank substantially over the past 12 months as people left the city in the wake of the implementation of the national security law that curtailed protest and dissent.
The city’s had an outflow of 89,200 residents in the year through the end of June 2021, contributing to a 1.2% drop in the total population to about 7.39 million people, according to government data released Thursday. The overall population figure also includes the inflow of 13,900 people holding one-way permits and a net natural decrease of 11,800 people due to births and deaths.
Hong Kong’s population declined in both 2019-20 and 2020-21, following more than a decade of consistent growth, the data show. After a historic recession spurred by political protests and the pandemic, China imposed the security law in June 2020, raising questions about the “one country, two systems” framework that had underpinned the former British colony’s success as a financial centre.
In response, some Hong Kong residents with foreign passports or other connections overseas have sought to relocate, especially to the UK, which in January opened a pathway to citizenship for holders of British National (Overseas) travel documents. In the first quarter of this year, the UK received more than 34,000 applications and granted 7,200, according to Home Office data.
When asked for a comment, a Hong Kong government representative referred to the report released Thursday that described the decline in city residents as “net movement, which includes the movement of Hong Kong residents into and out of Hong Kong for various purposes including work and study, is conceptually different from immigration and emigration.”
Hong Kong leaders, including Chief Executive Carrie Lam, have argued that the security law had improved the city’s long-term viability by restoring political stability. They’ve cited the recent strength of the Hong Kong dollar and growth in local financial markets as evidence that warnings about outflows have been overblown.
Lam told a July 20 news briefing that people emigrate for various reasons and that support from Beijing had provided “unlimited opportunities” for city residents. “If you really want me to say something to these Hong Kong people who have immigrated, are immigrating or intend to immigrate, I will tell them that the future of Hong Kong is very good,” Lam said.
