Emigration and the future of Hong Kong

In: Pacific affairs, Band 63, Heft 4, S. 500-523

Abstract

Hong Kong will be returned to the sovereignty of the People's Republic of China in July 1997. Public confidence in Hong Kong about its future is low. One perceived response to the increasing nervousness in Hong Kong is the upsurge in the numbers of people leaving the territory. The author explores whether this emigration is in response to the return of Hong Kong to Chinese sovereignty in 1997. He believes that while the impending transfer is clearly one factor, there are many more important reasons to be found in the policies of potential destination countries and in those conditions which are giving rise to an increase in the movement of Chinese people throughout Asia. (DÜI-Sen)