The population totalled 7.29 million as of the end of June, down roughly 120,000 from a year earlier, according to official data published in August. This marked the biggest drop since tracking began in 1961.
The government here highlighted a “natural decrease” from deaths outpacing births. But a large portion of the decline stemmed from the net outflow abroad of 110,000 residents over the course of a year.
Since Hong Kong’s population peaked at the end of 2019, the number of residents aged under 20 has fallen by 97,000, with declines of 235,000 for those in their 20s to 30s and 84,000 for those in their 40s to 50s. As the Chinese government tightens control over Hong Kong schools, many families with children are moving to countries like the UK and Canada in pursuit of more freedom in education.
Hong Kongers born before the UK returned the territory to China in 1997 qualify for British National (Overseas) status. Issuances of BNO passports between 2019 – when large-scale pro-democracy protests flared anew – and 2021 reached 7.6 times the tally for the three years prior.
UK in January 2021 began accepting applications for a new visa for BNOs, which will allow them to eventually qualify for British citizenship. Many have taken advantage of this visa to leave permanently.
Meanwhile, those remaining are growing greyer. The number of residents 60 and older has increased by 187,000.
The working population has fallen nearly 6% in three years to 3.76 million, official data shows. In addition to the exodus, strict coronavirus restrictions have squeezed the flow of new professionals moving in. Hong Kong approved 5,701 standard work visas in the first six months of this year, down 70% from the pace of 2019.
In an August report by the Hong Kong Investment Funds Association, 13% of its members reduced their workforce in Hong Kong, while 35% moved some or all of their Hong Kong operations elsewhere. Around 70% said it was “extremely difficult” to hire and retain foreign workers in Hong Kong.
Japanese companies operating here also expressed concern over the talent drain in a July survey published by the Japan External Trade Organization. “We are having trouble replacing midlevel employees in their 30s and 40s with school-age children after they quit,” one said.
In addition, Hong Kong still requires travellers to quarantine in a hotel even as the US, Europe and other parts of Asia ease Covid-19 restrictions. Although the government here is considering a shorter quarantine and other adjustments to its zero-Covid policy, continued travel curbs are likely to further undercut Hong Kong’s appeal as an international business hub.
“The government does not have direct statistics on emigration of Hong Kong residents,” a government spokesperson said when the latest population data was announced. “Being an international city, Hong Kong’s population has always been mobile.”
Still, concern appears to be growing within its government and its business sector, which tends to lean in favour of Beijing.
When announcing the 2021 data, the government had also said that “implying an emigration tide in Hong Kong solely from the increase in net outflow of residents is a sweeping generalisation.” The new release did not include this language.