He said about 70,000 Americans and 1,300 U.S. companies are currently present in Hong Kong.
The United States consulate estimates there are about 70,000 Americans in Hong Kong as of January 2023, a drop from 85,000 since its 2018 estimate; no census by any US government organization has ever been attempted.
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China and before that it was a British colony from 1841 until the Transfer of sovereignty to China in 1997. Many of the Hong Kong Americans hold both United States citizenship and right of abode in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is a large city which attracts many expats, more than half of whom (52%) move there for work reasons. Because of the large expat population, it is an extremely international city, popular among people from both nearby Asian countries and further away Western nations.
Foreign residents make up almost 10 per cent of Hong Kong's 7.5 million population, and some have been in the city for several decades, including retirees. In the first half of this year, 9,361 non-permanent residents had their stay visas extended, compared to 19,323 for the whole of 2020.
Home to 52 Fortune 500 companies, and 98 of China's largest corporations, Beijing is where most expats tend to live and work.
Hong Kong is a highly international place, which makes the process of moving there somewhat easy. The procedures are well-defined, bureaucracy minimal, and English is widely spoken. However, a good knowledge of customs regulations will simplify the relocation process even more.
Are Hong Kongers welcoming towards foreigners? Foreigners are generally welcomed in Hong Kong because of the region's status as an international financial hub and history as a British colony. For locals, seeing foreigners is commonplace, especially when visiting city centres, so they have learned to live with them.
In most part this is because Hong Kong is still considered a gateway to China; it's the country's most popular city for international business, Asia's foremost financial centre, and is still regarded as the best place for networking, trading and for accessing the huge mainland China market.
The average annual salary in Hong Kong SAR in 2023 is above HK$435,000. Full-time workers in Hong Kong SAR on average make HK$36,583.33 a month, equating to HK$439,000 a year.
English is one of two official languages in Hong Kong – the other being Chinese (Cantonese) – and is used in academia, business and the courts, as well as in most government materials. Major businesses routinely issue important material in both Chinese and English, and all road and government signs are bilingual.
After 1997
It ruled that the U.S. would continue to treat Hong Kong apart from the People's Republic of China even after the 1997 transfer of sovereignty marking the end of British rule. The United States maintains substantial economic and political interests in Hong Kong.
If you include McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken, there are hundreds of American restaurants in Hong Kong. But there are also several fine dining steak houses, informal diners, delicatessens, gourmet burger joints, and seafood eateries.
In general, yes. Hong Kong is an advanced economy with very low rates of crime across the city. That's not to say crime doesn't happen. Thefts, assaults and burglaries occur as in any other city, and organised crime is a wider issue for the city.
Apply for a visa
Although it depends on the passport you hold, most people are allowed to land and stay here as a visa-free visitor for seven to 180 days. Working visa: Unless you have a Hong Kong “Right of Abode” or “Right to Land”, you will need a visa to work in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong is a largely homogenous society, with about 91.6% of its people being Chinese (ethnically speaking, Han Chinese). The 2021 Population Census found (by way of self-identification) that there were about 619,568 non-Chinese people in Hong Kong, or about 8.4% of the population.
As of April 27, 2023, Li Ka-shing was the wealthiest person in Hong Kong, with an estimated net worth of 37.7 billion U.S. dollars, followed by Robin Zeng (No. 2, $34.5 billion), Lee Shau Kee (No. 3, $29.4 billion); and Peter Woo (No. 4, $16.0 billion).
Ethnicity and background
According to Hong Kong's 2021 census, 91.6 per cent of its population is ethnically Chinese, with 29.9 per cent having been born in mainland China, Taiwan or Macau.
Hong Kong is home to 129,500 millionaires, 290 centi-millionaires, and 32 billionaires. Despite poor growth over the past decade, the city-state continues to be one of the world's top financial hubs, with many of Asia's wealthiest businesspeople still basing themselves there.
If a Mainland resident is in possession of both valid EEP and PRC passport, he/she may, upon his/her entry into Hong Kong and in accordance with his/her purpose of visit, produce his/her EEP or PRC passport (except arriving from Macao and via Hong Kong to the Mainland) for entry into Hong Kong.
While Singapore provides a safer atmosphere, a tech-friendly climate, and a government that is supportive of small enterprises, Hong Kong has a more open economy, greater banking infrastructure, and a growing financial industry.
Generally, foreigners with families look for homes on the southern part of Hong Kong island. While foreigners living alone or as a couple tend to seek places around the Mid-Levels area. For affluent expats that enjoy luxurious dwellings, Victoria Peak offers a range of apartments and penthouse suites to choose from.
Mental health impacts overall health
Hong Kong still has one of the higher stress levels across the markets surveyed, with unmanageable stress levels raised to 18% in April 2021 (from 14% in December 2020).
The Hong Kong Chinese are generally sophisticated and cosmopolitan. They are quite familiar and comfortable with people from other countries. Although some businesspeople may overlook poor behaviour for the sake of the business deal, many will not. The Hong Kong Chinese take a long-term view of business relationships.
All in all, Hong Kong ranks 25th out of 67 countries in the Quality of Life Index. The Travel & Transport subcategory boosts the ranking in this index, as the ratings for the Health & Well-Being, Leisure Options, and Personal Happiness subcategories are indeed below average.