Recent (Young) Taiwanese Movers to Hong Kong: Challenges and Opportunities in a Global City*

Using Hong Kong as a case study, this article presents findings regarding the transnational migration of highly educated young Taiwanese to global cities in recent years. Three issues are discussed: (1) migration process and patterns, (2) cultural adaptation and challenges, and (3) returning. The data were obtained via face-to-face interviews with 35 young Taiwanese in Hong Kong and Taiwan from 2012 to 2015, utilizing a semi-structured questionnaire. Other than career development and financial incentive, our analysis took into account the challenges of dialect and unfamiliar culture, social adaptation, the high cost of housing, a crowded and polluted environment, and the fast pace of life. Close to 70 percent of the young migrants expressed a desire to move back to Taiwan for a variety of reasons. Although it is difficult to generate immediate economic incentives to attract emigrants back to Taiwan, the lower cost of living, less crowded environment, cleaner air, comfortable pace of life, better medical care, education for children, and sense of belonging to Taiwan are incentives to potentially lure young people back to Taiwan. Upon returning, their cosmopolitan training in Hong Kong and abroad would help Taiwan’s economic development in the short run and contribute to a Taiwan identity in the long run. Private industries can take the lead in recharging their human resources by providing reasonable salaries and bonuses to attract the best and brightest back. Most importantly, the Taiwan government needs to speed up the amendment of laws and reinvent strategies to compete for young, highly skilled migrants from abroad.