You can travel, and once or twice a year you could bite the bullet and come to Hong Kong and do the quarantine if you need to.". Before moving here, I stuck to Central and Soho whenever I visited Hong Kong, like many Western tourists. Cox assumed that Hong Kongers would fight back. March 14, 2022 - by Gregers Mller - Leave a Comment. The authorities also instructed people to limit private gatherings to two householdsbut said they wouldn't check on anyone. Top 35 Best Things To Do In Hong Kong This Weekend, Top 30 Hong Kong Attractions & Best Places To Visit, Farewell to Malvern Hong Kongs Founding Headmaster, Hong Kong students talk about their time at Shrewsbury. Expats have been leaving Hong Kong en masse in 2022. "We believe that Hong Kong will continue to bring together talents from local and international sources," a government spokesman said. Its rapid-fire introduction of restrictions prompted residents and experts to call the approach downright illogical. Ms Joseph is herself one of the expats who has chosen to leave the city. After separating around 2,000 children from their parents over six weeks, the city's Hospital Authority said in late March that it had scrapped the policy, per the Guardian. The lawmakers said HSBC sided with China after the country derecognized British National Overseas passports, which the UK offered to Hong Kongers who wished A leading business organisation says more than 40% of its members are considering leaving Hong Kong due to the city's strict coronavirus rules. Of course, it would be better for me to do the job in Singapore, but we really didnt have much choice., Megan Kinder, a property agent in Singapore who helps expats find properties, is having some tricky conversations. "Companies are not keen to go - but for the staff there are all sorts of issues. It's also inappropriate to be loud and boisterous or express strong emotions in public. Singapore/Tokyo: When Australian expat Nic rang her daughters teacher in Hong Kong and asked for a report card so she could enrol the five-year-old in a school in Singapore, the teacher replied she had already had three calls asking for the same thing for the same reason that day. In those years, Ive watched my nieces grow up, and Ive waved them goodbye as they departed for the US. "One of the things that's really hurting at this point is there seems to be no light at the end of the tunnel," she said. Hong Kong officials have openly expressed concern about the brain drain from the city, which for decades has had a reputation as one of Asias most cosmopolitan urban centres. Last summer, Tranbarger decided he'd had enough. Now they're in London. 1 min read. Hong Kong was in the throes of the pandemics fifth wave and sending patients who tested positive to a quarantine centre for up to 21 In this series, Quicktake Originals takes an in-depth look at the domestic and international projects that are shaping modern Africa, and their implications for the global economy. Before handing the reins to Lee, Lam said in June that the government would not give in "a single inch" to businesses' requests to ease restrictions, per the South China Morning Post. For more than two-and-a-half years, people have not been able to leave the city without enduring hotel quarantine on return. Anthony Kwan/Getty Images Hong Kong-based expats told Insider they were frustrated by the city's response to the Omicron wave. Web9 June @ 1:00 pm - 23 July @ 9:00 pm. "The only people willing to do it are the international or very senior executives or very young people without families," he told Reuters. Face or "minzi" is an important part of Chinese culture. After seven years of living in Hong Kong, New York native Marty Forth finally had it. Parents, in particular, are worried about the restrictions placed on their children who are forced to wear masks all day at school. as well as other partner offers and accept our. The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. Why many expats are choosing to no longer be based in Hong Kong. Hong Kong is home to some seven-and-a-half-million people. articles a month for anyone to read, even non-subscribers. Yu plans to join a Hong Kong-based hedge fund to focus on macro trading, according to one of the people. GURA: It's not just the COVID restrictions that have made life so difficult for many expats. 10 good reads from non-fiction to kids books! For example, there's Ocean Park, Hong Kong's oldest operating theme park. The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong's (AmCham HK) 2022 Business Sentiment Survey polled 262 individuals and corporate representatives, many of which have moved to the city from overseas. The annual SummerFest is back with a series of free Fun in the Sun activities at the harbourfront! While this will help restore the citys reputation as an international finance hub, many say it is too little too late. Yesterday, my Employment Pass was approved, which means that in 33 days I will once again be saying goodbye to this amazing territory I call home. Since September, Hong Kong has had five months of consecutive net outflow in travel, immigration department data shows. Beyond the Hong Kong government's Omicron response, expatriates said the pandemic also opened up a chance for Beijing to exert its authority over the territory. Yu joined Goldman Sachs in 2003 in Tokyo and became a managing director at the start of 2016. They also said it made them realize how Hong Kong, a city that they once loved, was becoming just like any other urban hub in mainland China, which is why they bade it goodbye. Over the last two years, the city has constantly oscillated between last-minute openings and closures of public venues, though caseloads stayed relatively few and far between. The change is palpable. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information. The Times has spoken to Bettina Schael, the pseudonym of a banker with a global remit and a mother of four who was born in Hong And while other countries relaxed their Covid regulations to move toward co-existing with the virus, Hong Kong instead intensified its policies as the Omicron variant blew up in the city this year. There are many activities parents can do with their kids in Hong Kong. "Basically, we need to see our families and there is no end in sight to travel restrictions, no roadmap or plan," he said. Hong Kong residents went onto the streets every weekend, bringing public transport to a standstill and forcing many commercial venues to close. Meanwhile, the film festival one of the oldest in Asia and its related programmes are expected to draw filmmakers and film-industry executives from across Asia and around the world. And after 27 years living in Hong Kong, I left without even knowing I was leaving and didn't say goodbye to anybody. "But the Hong Kong we're leaving behind isn't the one we moved to anymore.". He was concerned that the citys strict measures could prevent his 18-year-old son from departing to begin a summer student program in the United States. "The summer in Hong Kong will be the time when many people will throw in the towel and think to themselves 'This is just untenable'," one capital markets investment banker said, on the condition of anonymity. It is an offensive strategy for us.. Video, See inside Jenin refugee camp after Israeli assault, Actor released from prison in sex-trafficking case, Adele issues warning to fans throwing objects, Cocaine found in White House sparks evacuation, Iran faces legal action over downing of Ukraine jet, Just Stop Oil protests interrupt Wimbledon twice, Netherlands bans mobile phones in classrooms, Ten sent to jail in India for lynching Muslim man, Philadelphia shooting suspect charged with murder, Ruins found of Munich synagogue destroyed by Hitler. And so, Omicron and its deluge of infections sent Hong Kong's restriction cycle into overdrive. "You underestimate Hong Kong at your peril. 1 min read. Jumps of 30 per cent to 40 per cent appear to be the norm when leases expire. 17 January, 2023 by Catherine Cooper 2 Min Read In our Parting Shot series, readers share their experiences of expat life in Hong Kong. Im thinking of getting that tattooed on my arm to remind me I never want to do this again, says Nic, who will fly from Sydney on Sunday with daughter Adelaide to begin her familys new life in Singapore. And while the festival took place the following two years, primarily for local audiences, it still faced challenges. Now back in the US, she is due to leave her post as AmCham HK's president in March and said she has been unable to return to the city after Hong Kong closed its border to America. (Bloomberg) -- HSBC Holdings Plc Chief Executive Officer Noel Quinn is facing pressure from senior politicians on both sides of the Atlantic to explain why the bank has denied some Hong Kong expatriates access to their retirement funds. If you've got kids, it's worth going but I wouldn't fly to Hong Kong just to go to Disneyland. It was time to leave town. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. She's the outgoing president of the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong, which represents more than 600 U.S. companies. It's typical to serve food to other people and not just yourself. For example, if you pour yourself a cup of tea, you should pour some for another person too. Hong Kong All our close friends are leaving: Covid chaos pushes more expats to join Hong Kong exodus We are leaving and we will come back to empty our house Most Read from Bloomberg. In fact, the protests were core to how he described Hong Kong "a city with Chinese culture but with the freedoms of a European nation.". In 2019, some 55 million people, many of whom come from mainland China, visited the city. And Joseph expects more attrition in the coming months after banks pay out bonuses and the school year ends. Citigroup Inc. investment banker David Jiang is leaving the US lender as part of a recent round of layoffs, according to people familiar with the matter. I go to the supermarket and the notice board has a lot more relocation sales of Mercedes and BMWs.. Earlier this month, authorities lifted the last of the pandemic restrictions: mandatory face masks, which had been an obstacle for many potential travellers even though airlines began increasing flights to the city late last year. "Hong Kong is not for expats anymore," he added. See more in ourLiving in Hong Kong section. "We will start to see more senior banking executives based in Singapore. Here, British expat The change is palpable. In contrast, Singapore has dropped most mask requirements and Changi Airport is buzzing again. While it's not mandatory to wear masks in Hong Kong, locals feel it's more hygienic to do so. Singapore has become a difficult and expensive place to live.. "How can they come back and recover their reputation from this? Yu joined Goldman Sachs in 2003 in Tokyo and became a managing director at the start of 2016. TRANBARGER: So I sent for my stuff, and it's on ship. In fact, Hong Kong has ranked worst in the world in the Cost of Living Index of the Expat Insider survey for two years in a row now. And while Hancock says he has fond memories of Hong Kong, right now he has no plans to go back. The family will pay just under $S15,000 ($16,000) a month for a four-bedroom apartment near Tanglin Rd in Central Singapore that came in just within their budget. The city-state has also introduced a new visa, the Overseas Networks and Expertise pass, to attract a particular class of foreign talent. For Bruce, the businessman, it was Hong Kongs celebrated service-sector efficiency that brought him back. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. A fifth of Hong Kong's international schools have struggled to hire enough teachers for the new academic year, and expat educators are reluctant to move to the island even with top-end salaries offered, the Financial Times reported. Highlights include Sun & Sand in the Central "The government switched and changed its policy so many times and the decisions are made based on fear, not on evidence. Back in Hong Kong, the government indicated this week it was finally preparing to abolish the citys mandatory hotel quarantine rules. 1 min read. In 2019, Art Basel Hong Kong had a record attendance of 88,000 visitors. What a childhood and education Hong Kong had given me. But the Chinese territory is following Beijing's "zero-COVID" policy rather than adapting to life with the virus. Published Feb 21, 2023 + Follow If you're an Australian expat living and working in Hong Kong, you've likely heard of the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF). Bruce joined his son several weeks later and ultimately stayed away from Hong Kong for nearly three months. COVID left people with a taste for more space and there is simply not enough available, said Christopher Quek from the Navis Huttons real estate group. Forth is not convinced that things will improve. They thought it was expensive at $S9300 ($9933) a month. ECAs 2023 rankings are as follows: New York, US (2022 ranking: 2) Hong Kong, China (1) Geneva, Switzerland (3) London, UK (4) Citing APF,BTwrites that people elsewhere in the world in places such as Denmark, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand have learned to live with the virus but Hong Kong has been told by China that zero tolerance should be the goal. The airline said this month that part of the challenge is training pilots and cabin crew, many of whom left the airline over the past three years. Many well-educated expats are leaving Hong Kong due to the former British colonys tough zero-Covid restrictions and the local EU office estimates that 10 percent have left the area since the pandemic began. Its autonomy from China has eroded, and its strict COVID-zero policy has made it a difficult place to do business. Hong Kongs population declined 1.2% between mid-2020 and mid-2021, with more than 75,000 people leaving the city, according to Hong Kongs Census and Statistics Department. Many who stayed are angry and disappointed and moving to Singapore, says Winsome Lee, a Hong Kong property agent who manages properties rented to expatriates. We consider ourselves lucky. Not so long ago, Hong Kong was the number one destination for Australian expats. Local authorities would introduce sudden lockdowns on buildings, neighborhoods, or even entire cities to combat unexpected outbreaks. Chung Kim-wah, head of the Hong Kong Public Research Institute said, Many more people will choose to move away from here if given the chance., Editor-in-Chief ScandAsia Publishing Co., Ltd. Bangkok, Thailand, Your email address will not be published. China is wielding more control, and Hong Kong and mainland China have some of the most restrictive COVID policies in the world. The monthly rent has jumped 25 per cent to $S11,625 ($12,416). Even downtown Manhattan and central London becomes cheap when compared to Hong Kong. The rooms are small. It was rented at $S2400. James, a 37-year-old British marketing professional, told Insider that his circle of expatriate friends called the forced separation of children from their parents a "gulag move.". More than 120 Hong Kong drivers set off on road trips across the border on Saturday on the 26th anniversary of the citys return to Chinese rule, even though about "You feel a little bit of guilt leaving your friends you've made over seven years behind," Forth said. Because they have personal lives, they have anxieties, they have families back home," AmCham HK's outgoing-president Tara Joseph said. "You do obviously have salaries that have 35% or 40% increases as well. Now lots of people, including my neighbours, are moving to Singapore, says Raymond Yeung, ANZs Hong Kong-based chief China economist. Tourists shouldn't limit their travels to Hong Kong island. Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights, authorities lifted the last of the pandemic restrictions: mandatory face masks. HK police charge former aircrew over Covid rules, Hong Kong pilots stuck in 'perpetual quarantine', Cathay Pacific imposes tough Covid rules on crew, Palestinians fear escalation after Jenin assault, See inside Jenin refugee camp after Israeli assault. He asked that Insider not use his full name to ensure his job security. Silk Relo and Asian Tigers are also seeing an "uptick" in moves from Hong Kong HANCOCK: I think it's changed dramatically. "When you look at the city, the financial services talent pool is definitely getting smaller.". Schools and houses, schools and houses, they are the two things you absolutely have to focus on. Hong Kong felt like a great fit for my husband and me; there was so much to explore and the city was lively, dynamic, and diverse. Homes in Hong Kong before & after renovation! Now, as we prepare to be driven to the airport, my stomach tightens. James concurred. To Forth, Lam's announcement means that the Hong Kong government would continue to be fickle-minded about its Covid regulations. That compares to 26% of the companies surveyed A lot of people are considering leaving. Burkholderia pseudomallei grown on sheep blood agar for WebHong Kong health authorities report one new confirmed melioidosis infection. The AsiaWorld-Expo, a What Investors Are Discussing atSummer Parties, Artificial IntelligenceCompanies Hunt for San Francisco Offices, Secret Service Confirms Cocaine WasFound Inside White House, Turkey Snubs US Pressure on F-16s as Biden Meets Swedish Premier, Commercial Property Fears Create Opportunities, Blackstone Real Estate Co-Head Says, Rural India Adding Super Rich Faster Than Urban, Study Shows. More than 40% of expats surveyed by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong say theyre considering moving away from the former British colony as It does not expect to be at pre-pandemic levels until the end of 2024. Many well-educated expats are leaving Hong Kong due to the former British colonys tough zero-Covid restrictions and the local EU office estimates that 10 percent have left the area since the pandemic began. He has specialised in financial journalism for most of his career and covers equity and debt capital markets across Asia and Australian M&A. Web2020-2022 has been a challenge for Hong Kong and many have decided to leave due to various reasons. During the 2019 protests, Cox's only day off was on Sunday, and he went for weeks without being able to meet friends or unwind outside. Get Free Quotes from up to 6 Shipping Companies As seen on Home Moving Abroad Moving to China Moving to Hong Kong Moving to Hong Kong Hong Kong Our rating 3 out of 5 Affordability 3 out of 5 Safety 4 out of 5 Healthcare 2 out of 5 Local news companies also announced "partnerships" with Chinese state media. "A lot of people see that it has become a Chinese city, already more and more freedoms are being taken," he said. Daily new COVID-19 cases continue to hover at around 4,000 a far cry from the government's zero-case aspirations. New eye repair treatmentfor eye bags, puffy eyes & more. At the tail end of a two-month trip to the U.S., he decided not to go back. Thats an additional $S27,900 per year, after tax, Andrew points out. Hong Kong has a delicate and complex political situation, and people in the city can have extremely different views. Cathay currently is operating at 50 percent of pre-pandemic passenger flight capacity and forecasts that figure to be 70 percent by the end of this year. 9 beachy venues Repulse Bay restaurants & more! Then came Omicron, and cases in Hong Kong surged. Extreme weather is wreaking havoc across Latin America, racking up billions worth of damage and unleashing a vicious cycle that leads to higher demand for fossil fuels and more climate change, the World Meteorological Organization said on Wednesday. KEVIN TRANBARGER: One of the things that I loved about living there was it's a truly international place. Some firms are resorting to bumping salaries for new hires far past the usual rate, said John Mullally, regional director for human resource firm Robert Walters. Required fields are marked *. However, "zero COVID" is no closer 140 new infections were reported in Hong Kong on Sunday - and there are no signs of the government easing those restrictions. Hong Kong clamped down on travel, too. As a foreigner in Hong Kong, Cox admits that the new law didn't have much of an impact on him personally.
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