This number represents a 60 per cent rise in residents from France since 2008. Hong Kong now has the biggest French community in Asia, with about 15,000 people, and between 100 and 150 people register at the consulate every month. The French consulate said the French community in Hong Kong was the second-largest among the European countries, after Britain. At the French International School, the trend is clear. The school, which caters for children aged three to 18, has about 9 per cent more students each year, and in the past six years pupil numbers in the French section have doubled, to reach 1,666.

The financial meltdown in 2007 and the current woes of the euro zone have played their part in spurring about 1,000 French people to move to Hong Kong every year. While France is struggling with near-zero economic growth, Hong Kong is seen as a dynamic place and a golden gateway to China.

Orianne Chenain, from the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that as French companies turned to more export-based activity, they often chose to first settle in Hong Kong and then penetrate the mainland market. For example, in September, electrical engineering and power management company Schneider Electric relocated its top management, including its chief executive, to Hong Kong.

The French community in Hong Kong includes many diverse skills. 'It [the community] is very wide-ranging with people from the luxury industry, finance, environmental, wine or sourcing industries,' Chenain, the chamber's deputy general manager and head of business development, said. Created in 1986, the private organisation has 755 members and is the biggest European chamber of commerce in Hong Kong.

According to the consulate, more and more young French graduates are trying their luck in Hong Kong and the average age of a French expatriate is 30 years old.

Viviane Tran came to Hong Kong this summer on holiday with her parents. While her family eventually returned to Paris, she stayed. 'Nothing is happening in France,' the 26-year-old said. She studied arts and Mandarin at university and is now setting up her own business in Hong Kong. Called Loulou et Camille, it aims to provide educational activities and games in French for toddlers.

Tran applied for a business registration and is now waiting to hear whether her work visa has been approved. 'I don't want to go back to France, I still have so much to do and see in Hong Kong,' she said.

When Tran arrived, she started connecting with the French community by attending several caf?s accueil, social gatherings organised by the Hong Kong Accueil (welcome) association. She was surprised at how many French people there were in Hong Kong.

Tran feels the atmosphere here is different. 'It is motivating to see everyone being active and learning constantly, because they know they can climb the [social] ladder,' she said.

Raphael Beaudrey, a trust company business development manager who has lived here for five years, noticed a 'stunning' rise in French residents since 2008. Beaudrey is also president of the local French Junior Chamber of Commerce, an association created last year whose members, young professionals aged between 18 and 40, work in a team to solve economic and social issues.

He said he had seen more and more unemployed French people coming to Hong Kong to look for work.

Cecile Lamige is one of these people. Until late September, she worked in London in the luxury hotel industry. She quit and decided to follow her boyfriend who had been relocated.

'I could have stayed in London, but Asia is where it is happening now,' the 27-year-old said. 'The fact I don't speak Mandarin is going to close some doors, but I have started taking classes.' She said she had been very busy networking and hoped to find a job within five months.

The scrapping of wine and beer duties in 2008, a move that helped propel Hong Kong to become an international wine hub, gave French wine businesses a strong boost, according to Chenain.

'Many hotels and high-end restaurants like to hire French sommeliers who have studied in French wine schools,' said Christophe Bonno, a professional sommelier.

Bonno, who is also the co-owner of Les Boules, arrived in Hong Kong in 1992 at the age of 23 and since then has kept in touch with the growing French community. 'I think it is important,' he said. 'Sometimes the French do not really show solidarity with each other when they live abroad. We need to have local associations to create those bonds.' He said the community could learn a lot from other expatriate groups.

One thing any French community abroad is keen on is promoting its culture and French events have become a staple in the local scene. Every year since 1993, Le French May has drawn a local and international crowd and it is now one of the largest French arts festivals in Asia. The French Cinepanorama, which will open on November 24, was created by the Alliance Fran?aise 40 years ago and is the longest running film festival in Hong Kong. And this Thursday, several French restaurants in the city will at the stroke of midnight celebrate the annual release of the Beaujolais nouveau, a popular young wine from Burgundy.

These kinds of events have helped Clemence Robine keep a foot in both countries. She runs Hong Kong Madame, a news website in French for young women living in Hong Kong. Launched with a friend a year ago, what started as a hobby has now become a full-time job. The website also has an English version and sends three weekly newsletters.

Clemence, who used to be a press officer, acknowledged it took her some time to get used to living in Hong Kong, but she now loved it. 'It is so easy to create your own company in Hong Kong,' she said. 'If I go back to France, I know things will be hard for me.'

Eric Masson is not even considering going back. 'I feel I am more a Hongkonger than French,' he said.

18,883

The number of French tourists to visit Hong Kong in July this year

- That was a drop of 8.4 per cent from the same month last year