About 30 per cent of young mainland Chinese expats in Hong Kong have said that more government regulations are affecting their daily lives, with some lawmakers warning such controls might dampen the city’s appeal and drive out talent.
The figure came from a survey organised by lawmakers Gary Zhang Xinyu and Johnny Ng Kit-chong, who collaborated with the Youth Expats Association to poll 800 mainland students and workers from December 16 to 29.
The two legislators said on Tuesday that increased regulation of people’s lives could weaken the city’s competitive advantages and prompt many gang piao, or “Hong Kong drifters”, to return home to the mainland.
The term, which was coined in mainland internet chat rooms, refers to young, educated individuals from north of the border who now live and work in the city.
“We should be careful not to control more and more aspects of people’s livelihoods or microeconomic operations,” Zhang said, adding that ensuring residents’ freedoms and choices should be a top priority.
“Being proactive does not mean that everything, big or small, must be managed by the government.”