About 90,000 people have left Hong Kong in the past year. This shows the largest population decline in the city in 60 years.

• In Hong Kong, a net outflow of 89,200 residents was seen in June 2021 year-on-year.

• This shows the largest population decline in the city since it began tracking in 1961.

• The government said the decline did not mean that more Hong Kong residents would leave Hong Kong permanently.

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Nearly 90,000 people have left Hong Kong over the past year, declining Hong Kong’s population by 1.2%, according to data released by Hong Kong on Thursday. Census Statistics Bureau.

In June 2021, a net outflow of 89,200 people was seen in Hong Kong, bringing the population to 7.39 million. Decrease includes natural decrease. The death toll in the city exceeds the number of births by 11,800. According to AFP, this represents the most rapid population decline of the year since Hong Kong began to set records in 1961.

Financial centers began to decline between mid-2019 and mid-2020, with a population decline of 0.3%. That trend was exacerbated when data at the end of 2020 recorded a 1.2% year-on-year decline, according to the government. data. Prior to that, the data showed a net increase in population over the last decade.

Population decline is consistent with the strengthening of cities by the Chinese government. National Security Law It was deployed in June a year ago. As of June 2021, 117 people were reportedly arrested under drastic law. Reuters..

After the law was passed, the UK provided up to 5.4 million British National (Overseas) visas to Hong Kong residents and their dependents in January, paving the way for citizenship. According to, more than 34,000 people registered for this scheme within two months. South China Morning Post..

Hong Kong government Statement released on Thursday Population decline was expected as it was in line with a pandemic and strict border restrictions, which meant that Hong Kong residents abroad could not return to the city-state. He also mentioned the decline in the entry of foreign domestic workers and the workers who come to work and study.

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“Hong Kong residents who left Hong Kong before the pandemic may have chosen to stay outside Hong Kong or may not be able to return to Hong Kong due to flight availability. All of this may be Hong Kong during the period. It may have contributed to the net outflow of residents. ” Government spokesman for the statement.

The ministry also said that this decline does not necessarily mean that more Hong Kong residents are permanently moving abroad.

“The movement of Hong Kong residents, including entering and exiting Hong Kong, for a variety of purposes, including work and study, is conceptually different from immigrants and immigrants,” said a spokesman.

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