The survey conducted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (AmCham) was quoted by the foreign press as finding that 42% of the members surveyed are considering or planning to leave Hong Kong, with the main reason being unease over the Hong Kong National Security Law.
The Chamber conducted interviews from the 5th to the 9th of this month and received responses from 325 members, equivalent to 24% of the Chamber’s membership. According to the survey, 62% of the 42% of the above-mentioned people who expected to leave Hong Kong said the “Hong Kong National Security Law” was uncomfortable, and about 36% were worried that the law would affect their children’s education.
Among the above-mentioned members who plan to leave Hong Kong, about 3% intend to leave Hong Kong immediately, 10% said they want to do so before the end of summer, 15% hope to move at the end of the year, and 48% hope to leave within 3 to 5 years.
The survey also pointed out that 42% were pessimistic about Hong Kong’s future competitiveness, nearly 50% thought anti-epidemic measures made it difficult for them to travel and visit their families, and nearly 24% said Hong Kong was expensive.
As for those who intend to stay in Hong Kong, about 77% praised Hong Kong’s good quality of life, 55% said Hong Kong has an excellent business environment, while 48% liked its proximity to the mainland market.
Some AmCham members interviewed said the red lines of the national security law are vague and seem to be subject to change at will, fearing arrest for speaking or writing, while others believe the U.S. is now much safer than Hong Kong. Tara Joseph, president of the American Chamber of Commerce, suggested that the government should pay attention to the emotional feelings of expatriates living in Hong Kong and gain a better understanding of their concerns and alleviate their main concerns in order to prevent Hong Kong from losing its ability to compete with other business centers.
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