Shades Off | Hong Kong’s worrying turn from a city that once welcomed foreigners with open arms

Hong Kong’s attraction for many foreigners has been its East-meets-West vibe and location in the centre of Asia on mainland China’s doorstep, a happy point of cultural immersion that requires only dipping in as far as is desired.

There is no need to go “native” and learn the language unless you want to and, if Chinese food of all sorts is not a pleasure, other Asian and Western options abound. Sizeable enough communities of many nationalities exist for those who are homesick for culture and connection.

These are valuable selling points for a city like Hong Kong and its economy has been helped by talented outsiders drawn to work and do business. There was a time when the best in the world were coming in, and their expertise was driving growth and development, research and education.

But, in recent years, interest has subsided and as many regional and international-minded firms will attest, it is now challenging to find competent staff, let alone retain existing ones. The reason is simple: government policies that discourage rather than entice and rhetoric that is blatantly anti-foreigner.

Disruptive anti-government protests in 2019 started an obvious trend that was given impetus when national security legislation was imposed. A US-driven campaign against China that dragged in Hong Kong and led to sanctions compounded the problem, but what has been the final straw for many are rules implemented over the past two years to prevent outbreaks of the coronavirus.

In step with Beijing’s anti-Covid strategy, they have variously banned flights from the worst-hit countries, coincidentally often Western ones that have imposed penalties, required lengthy stays in quarantine hotels and barred foreigners other than those working and living in Hong Kong.