Editorial | Restore faith among expats and locals
- Brain drain caused by measures to counter Covid-19 are hitting Hong Kong hard; the authorities must do a better job before the city suffers more damage
As life returns to normal elsewhere while Hong Kong tightens anti-pandemic constraints, more expatriates find themselves conflicted about where their future lies. Frustrated and uncertain, many are going home, or relocating to Singapore for example, often with families. The exodus includes mainland talent.
There is no sign of it tapering off. This is not good for an international city.
Officially Hong Kong suffered a net outflow of 71,000 people in February alone. Over the past three years, perceptions of the city as a place to settle have been pummelled by anti-government protests, a new national security law and pandemic measures.
In the latest annual liveability rankings compiled by ECA International, the city slipped 19 places to 77th out of 490 cities. Other figures tend to be anecdotal. But, for example, according to a source with knowledge of the matter, a European Union envoy recently told the government that 10 per cent of EU citizens had left the city over the past year.
Hong Kong has chosen its path of resistance to the virus. Sadly, many expatriates who had confidence in it would prefer to live more normally – with the virus – somewhere else.