60% of mainland migrants come to HK for study, questionnaire shows

The Youth Expat Association, in collaboration with Legislative Council members Gary Zhang Xinyu and Johnny Ng Kit-chong, conducted an online questionnaire survey with approximately 800 mainland migrants ("Gang Piao") to understand their views on the Hong Kong economy, lifestyle, culture, and public policies. The survey found that over 80% of respondents held a positive outlook on Hong Kong's future, with at least 60% stating that their purpose for coming to Hong Kong was for education. There was a consensus among the respondents that Hong Kong's education system is aligned with international standards, especially with top rankings in global university rankings.

Regarding lifestyle, the survey indicated that 39% of respondents found it inconvenient to transfer money between Hong Kong and mainland China, while approximately over 40% believed that online shopping in Hong Kong is not as convenient as in mainland China, and electronic payments are somewhat lagging. A significant 30.8% of mainland migrants felt that there are increasing regulations on daily life, with around 10% expressing discomfort with the prevalence of non-smoking areas throughout Hong Kong and the decreased frequency of discussions involving smoking and drinking in public.

Zhang noted that the data reflects the general affection that mainland migrants have for Hong Kong and their optimism regarding the future of the city. However, many migrants are concerned about the increasing regulations by the SAR government on citizens' lifestyle habits, believing that in areas concerning the economy and livelihoods, openness and freedom should be maintained.

He expressed his dislike for smoking but criticized the government's seemingly abrupt approach, such as the proposed comprehensive ban on electronic cigarettes, which he views as too sweeping and lacking accommodation for different preferences. He suggested that the focus should shift to investing resources in education to reduce the number of smokers.

Ng acknowledged the government's focus on public health. He mentioned concerns raised by international conference organizers about Hong Kong's smoking control measures, fearing that an overly restrictive lifestyle environment might deter foreign participation in international conferences. Ng advocated for a gradual approach to implementing smoking control policies. He also highlighted the issue of Hong Kong's industry being overly reliant on a single sector and emphasized the government's efforts to align with the development of "eight centers" in Hong Kong expressing confidence that effective implementation would create more job opportunities in the future.

Conveyor of the association, Cherrie Chong Wing-lum, emphasized that Hong Kong floaters have become an important part of Hong Kong's labor force. The association aims to use the analysis of the survey results to propose more policy initiatives to the government, assisting Hong Kong floaters in their endeavors, whether it be studying, living, or working in Hong Kong.

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