Home and away: after national security law, Hongkongers contemplate a second exodus
Amid the uncertainty, inquiries to migration agents have soared. Willis Fu Yiu-wai, marketing director of Goldmax Associates, said he had fielded 30 to 40 calls a day since the passage of the law – triple the usual number.
“I foresee that many Hong Kong people, especially educated young people, will leave,” he said. “It’s because of the inquiries I receive every day – most of them are [from] people below 40 years old. Their intention is not only to leave, but they also want to seek a better place for their children to grow up.”
Fu said his clients were split between those who had signed up to migrate and those who were delaying their application to see how Western countries would assist Hongkongers.
“The Five Eyes’ assistance has created hope for some Hongkongers, with clients waiting for further announcements from those countries to see how they [would help] rather than taking immediate action to apply for a visa now,” Fu said, referring to the intelligence-sharing alliance comprising the US, Canada, Britain, Australia and New Zealand.
