Profile of emigrants
3. Approximately half of those who emigrated in 1988 were employed; half of these (ie a quarter of the total) were employed in
professional, administrative and management jobs. This compares with a figure of about 5% for this group in the community as a
whole. Some 15% of the emigrants were degree holders, compared
with 3.3% of the population as a whole.
Reasons for emigration
4. It is extremely difficult to determine precisely why individual people or families decide to emigrate. Clearly some do so in order to join family members who have themselves already emigrated. Equally clearly, uncertainty over the future of Hong Kong is another factor. But it is probably also significant that recent changes in the immigration policies of all three main destination countries (see below) have resulted in additional opportunities for Hong Kong people to emigrate. 24,588 Hong Kong people emigrated to Canada in 1988, up from 8,596 3 years earlier; and the figure for Australia increased from 3,964 to 7,846 over the same period.
5.
Family reunion remains the basis of US immigration policy. There is no limit on the number of spouses, children and parents of US citizens who may enter the US, but there are quotas for other family members. In October 1987, the annual quota for a dependent territory (a category in which Hong Kong is included) was increased from 600 to 5,000 to reduce the backlog of applicants.
6. Canada sets no immigration quotas by country, but announces each year a global planning level which is modified to accommodate changing social, economic or demographic circumstances. planning range for 1986 was 103,000-115,000: this increased to 150,000-160,000 in 1989. Within this overall figure, the independent selected worker category was reopened in 1986. Hong Kong people are able to qualify in this category.
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