Number of Hongkongers migrating to Canada hits 20-year high, stretching back to handover in 1997

But top diplomat in city declines to say whether political turmoil is reason

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Hong Kong has seen a steady uptick in recent years in the number of residents immigrating to Canada. Photo: AFP

Published: 8:00am, 11 Sep 2017Updated: 1:58am, 26 Dec 2021

A record number of Hongkongers migrated to Canada last year in the biggest influx to the country since the 1997 handover, while more mainlanders made a similar trek despite the scrapping of a popular migrants scheme, the Post has learned.

Figures from the Canadian consulate in Hong Kong showed that 1,210 Hong Kong people became permanent residents there last year, double the 630 figure for 2015 and 585 for 2014, the year of the Occupy protests.

Applications also spiked from 977 in 2013 to 1,481 in 2014, before dipping to 1,096 in 2015 and moderating at 1,194 in 2016.

Pro-democracy supporters in Hong Kong’s Admiralty district on October 10, 2014 during the Occupy movement. Photo: AFP

“Hong Kong has changed a lot over the years,” said 34-year-old Ann Sze Ka-yan, who moved to Toronto last year. “Pressure at work was immense and children were also facing so much pressure at schools. Many parents did not want to be monster parents but they ended up that way. We felt that there was no point living a life like that.”

“Occupy also prompted me to make up my mind,” she added, referring to the 79-day protest for universal suffrage that paralysed the city. “No matter who takes up the position as the city’s leader, I don’t see how they can make Hong Kong a better place.”