Hong Kong's growing exodus impacts schools and hospitals

Brain drain becomes reality as estimated 100,000 could leave the territory

Travelers at Hong Kong International Airport in July. Many Hong Kong families have decided to relocate overseas. © Getty Images

TAKESHI KIHARA, Nikkei staff writer

August 31, 2021 14:22 JST

HONG KONG -- The outflow of residents has become a serious problem for Hong Kong.

The region's population, which had grown almost nonstop since the 1960s, began to dip in 2020. After a national security law was imposed on Hong Kong in June 2020, more residents began relocating overseas. The number of emigrants is expected to peak around the end of this year or in 2022, and may total some 100,000, according to one estimate. The impact of the exodus is already being felt in the education and health care sectors.