Entering 2021, quite some specialists commented on the economic and social conditions of the year as yours truly had said: unemployment and closing down of enterprises in Hong Kong would be major issues in the new year. A professional said another issue is mass migration wave, unreservedly pointing out a mass migration wave triggered by the implementation of the National Security Law wouldn’t emerge until this year. However, the impact it is going to have on Hong Kong economy is anybody’s guess. He said that even if Beijing makes its move to tackle the issue of dual nationality, it is hardly possible to alter the minds of the Hong Kong people who have decided to emigrate, “because this mass migration wave, in which plenty of them are leaving for good, is totally different from the one in 1997, in which a lot were planning to come back for money”.

The professional, who emigrated as early as in 1997 and came back to Hong Kong later on, said that in January, “I’m on a full schedule packed with farewell dinners for friends, colleagues and subordinates that are leaving in January and February”. And Britain is still the most popular place the Hong Kong people are emigrating to. “Despite the grim epidemic conditions in the country, they insist on going lest the situation might be volatile.” He said frankly the bespoke immigration route for the Hong Kong BN(O) Visa holders starts welcoming applications at the end of January, so it is believed more people will set off after January. “The mass migration wave is not subjected to the remarks made by Beijing and Carrie Lam: No, there isn’t one. If no one had been heading over to the UK from Hong Kong, would Li Ka-shing have invested £1 billion in building residential complexes in the country? Would owner of Cable TV Chiu Tat Cheong have built so many residential buildings in Manchester? Would they invest if there was no demand? Do you believe the land developers or the government?”

As to the pro-establishment camp spreading news on end that Beijing will tackle the issue of dual nationality with measures leveled at the new immigration route offered by Britain, the professional, who has had the experience of coming back to Hong Kong after emigration, honestly said the endeavor concerned isn’t of any help. “Many emigrants of my age back then mapped out their plans to come back to Hong Kong for money. With their families living overseas, they would jitter at the impact on their opportunities to make money if their Chinese nationality and right of abode in Hong Kong were rescinded. But this time, many people won’t come back to Hong Kong in the eight or ten years to come. So, they don’t even care if they still have the Chinese nationality and right of abode in Hong Kong.” Furthermore, if Beijing really does so, it will scare away more Hong Kong people. “Those who didn’t want to will plan to right away.”

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