In recent years, Hong Kong has seen a continuous phenomenon of "reverse immigration," where the number of Hong Kong residents returning after obtaining foreign citizenship far exceeds those emigrating abroad. This phenomenon is also referred to as the "immigration reflux tide."
The large-scale emigration of Hong Kong residents began in 1984 after the signing of the Sino-British Joint Declaration, with the United States, Canada, and Australia being the main countries for immigration that year. Until 1997 when Hong Kong was returned to China, the number of Hong Kong residents emigrating dropped sharply. In 1994, over 44,000 Hong Kong residents immigrated to Canada, while now only a few hundred do so each year. In stark contrast, a previous survey by the South China Morning Post found that from 1996 to 2011, over 65,000 Canadian immigrants born in Hong Kong returned to Hong Kong; the total number over the past 15 years exceeded 153,000.
According to reports from Hong Kong media, the advantages of Hong Kong, such as its proximity to the vast market of Mainland China, strong economic development momentum, a favorable entrepreneurial business environment, lower taxes, and the opportunity for children to receive high-level international education, are all important reasons attracting elite immigrants back to Hong Kong. Similarly, this is also the charm that attracts a large number of Mainland investors to apply for investment residency in Hong Kong.
In 2012, the "China International Migration Report" pointed out that as of 2012, the number of individuals in China with personal assets exceeding 6 million reached 2.7 million, with an average age of 39. If you ask them: Why do you want to immigrate? About half would answer for their children's education, while the other half seek a favorable business environment and convenience for going abroad. Hong Kong largely meets these two major immigration needs, thus becoming not only a destination for returning overseas immigrants but also a favored immigration destination for Mainland investors.
Mr. Zhang, a client of WorldWay Immigration, frequently travels to various countries for business, which led him to consider immigration. Upon the suggestion of WorldWay, he chose to invest and settle in Hong Kong. Mr. Zhang stated: "Obtaining a Hong Kong identity is equivalent to retaining a Chinese identity while also having the status of a foreign investor. In addition to the benefits of Mainland policies, the investment in Hong Kong is also a form of financial management. Especially the fact that my children can receive an international education in the future is what I am most satisfied with."
