BRITISH expatriates are leaving Hong Kong in significant numbers as the date for the reunification of the British colony with China draws closer. Since February last, the number of Britons in the territory fell by more than 200 a week, according to the Hong Kong Immigration Department.
At the same time the number of Americans and other expatriates in Hong Kong has steadily increased, indicating that the international community believes in the future of Hong Kong under Chinese sovereignty. The total foreign community has grown from 370,000 a year ago to 438,200.
Indeed a poll published yesterday in the South China Morning Post showed political confidence among the territory's population is rising, with 80 per cent confident about the territory's future, compared with 75 per cent in October and 61 per cent a year ago.
The exodus of Britons represents the departure of a "floating population" of British backpackers, students and specialists working on projects whose contracts have ended, according to the British Chamber of Commerce executive director, Mr Christopher Hammerbeck. "I don't believe this indicates that Dunkirk is here and we are all clambering for the boats," he said.
A long term Hong Kong resident explained: "The colonials aren't leaving yet. These are people who came in to earn some money at the new airport or working around the city and are leaving probably because of new visa requirements, plus some civil servants who are affected by the localisation policy."
By April, British expatriates are expected to have to apply for work visas as their immigration privileges end prior to China assuming sovereignty on July 1st. Before now they were automatically granted one year visas on arrival and did not have to apply for work permits.
Under proposals expected to be approved by the Legislative Council, visas given to British travellers will be cut to six months and residents will have to apply for work visas once their current visa runs out.
The number of British expatriates rose sharply from 26,700 to 34,500 in the period December 1995 to February 1996, partly due to an influx of people seeking work on infrastructure jobs such as the Chek Lap Kok airport. However, it fell by 25 per cent over the last 10 months of 1996, reaching 25,500 by December 31st. This was the first decrease in five years. Mr Hammerbeck said this did not mean British companies were leaving Hong Kong. "It's quite the contrary, they are continuing to increase their numbers."
A spokesman for the US consulate in Hong Kong said there were presently some 37,000 Americans in the territory, about double the total 10 years ago, and the number was rising.
The number of US companies in Hong Kong also had almost doubled in that time. Hong Kong was still attractive to new companies "in spite of - or because of - the transition", he said, explaining that to many the primary importance of Hong Kong was its location as an Asian base with excellent infrastructure.
An American businessman Mr Mark Michelson, last year's chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce, told The Irish Times that business confidence in Hong Kong was strong. Many new American companies were establishing bases there, and US academics were taking up teaching posts at the new University of Science and Technology.
The Filipino population, consisting mostly of domestic helpers, also fell for the first time in six years, from 139,300 to 128,800, according to the new immigration statistics. Many were replaced by Indonesians, who are arriving at the rate of 100 a week.
While confidence in the future of Hong Kong remains high, a majority of the six million population opposes China's move to eliminate recent civil liberties by repealing sections of the Public Order and Societies ordinances.
Almost 55 per cent objected to the move and only 17.8 per cent supported it. More than 58 per cent of the 573 respondents said their confidence in continuing civil liberties after July 1st had been undermined, while more than 26 per cent said the move made no difference.
Dr Wong Cheong wing, of Hong Kong Policy Viewers which conducted the poll, said the figures were a clear signal that the public disagreed with the decision and that the Chief Executive designate, Mr Tung Chee wha, and the provisional legislature should heed their views. Mr Tung promised on Sunday that the changes would not be carried through without public consultation.
Another confidence survey, in the South China Morning Post, showed that with the transition just five months away, Hong Kong people have voted January the best start to any year since 1989. The newspaper's quarterly confidence index, prepared by Survey Research Hong Kong, registered a simultaneous surge in economic and political confidence since October.
. The British government is to announce a climbdown and grant full British passports to 5,000 non Chinese Asians in Hong Kong who would otherwise become stateless after the British colony reverts to China, the Daily Telegraph reports today. It quotes government sources as saying that the Home Secretary, Mr Michael Howard, could make the announcement today.