#Poll: One out of four #Hongkonger wants to emigrate; #CarrieLam: Not interested

On March 25, 2022, the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (#HKPORI) announced some alarming survey findings that a quarter of the city population plans to emigrate, citing political uncertainty as the key reason.

Reporters took this issue to the #ChiefExecutive, Carrie Lam and asked whether measures are in place to retain talents.

Lam brushed the question aside as she responded in contempt, "I am not interested in these surveys in general. So I am not going to comment."

Lam asked Hong Kong people to stay confident as she foresees the #COVID19 pandemic receding in 4 weeks.

Lam's colleague, a member of the Executive Council, Bernard Charnwut Chan, apparently has a different view.

Chan expressed concerns over Hong Kong's role as the financial center in Asia when multinational corporations are moving their Asia Pacific headquarters away from Hong Kong.

Chan told reporters on a radio talk show that chances for these headquarters to be relocated back to Hong Kong are slim.

Although Hong Kong has lifted flight bans against 9 countries, inbound restrictions remained in force while many countries have removed COVID-19 restrictions altogether.

Source: Inmediahk; #Mar26
https://bit.ly/3tEWzDW

#BernardChan #FailedState #BrainDrain #EmigrationWave
#Exodus

#Exodus #Oppression
Senior member of Hong Kong pollster leaves city for the UK, citing ‘red lines’

A senior member of Hong Kong’s leading independent pollster, #ChungKim-wah has left for the UK, calling the city a place where one may “no longer live normally and without intimidation.”

In his lengthy statement on Facebook, Chung said he had not initially considered emigrating.

“Now, I can only hope that the skies will be broader, the air fresher… and that I don’t have to think about whether the red lines that move arbitrarily will one day target me,” deputy CEO of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (#HKPORI) Chung wrote.

He added that he did not want his friends and loved ones – especially his elderly parents – to worry about him. “I am apologetic that I left without saying goodbye, and I regret that I couldn’t say farewell to you all,” Chung said.

#NationalSecurityLaw #WhiteTerror

Source: Inmediahk, HKFP; #Apr
https://bit.ly/3kb6J9X

#Exodus #Oppression
Pro-democracy political cartoonist announces departure from Hong Kong citing ‘great mental stress’

The comic artist, #AhTo, who has drawn satirical cartoons about local politics for 11 years, made the announcement on social media.

He shared a drawing of one of his iconic characters standing in front of what appeared to be the London cityscape and said he left because he “wanted to continue creating for HK.”

"Staying in HK to produce political cartoon [causes] great mental stress. [I] have no alternative but to leave,” the artist wrote on Facebook, without stating his destination.

Ah To said he had considered giving up on political cartoons in 2017 when HK’s social movement was “at low tide.” He also thought about changing the theme of his work last year.

But he deemed that HK “needed political cartoons,” and said he wanted to “persist” by remotely creating cartoons for his home city.

#WhiteTerror #NationalSecurityLaw

Source: Inmediahk, HKFP; #Apr26
https://bit.ly/3MwJfIk