ABSTRACT
Following mass social protests in 2019 and the enactment of a national security law in 2020 in Hong Kong, a significant proportion of Hong Kong people considered migrating to another country. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic had spread rapidly around the world. This study examines investigate whether the migration intention and the planned timing of migration of Hong Kong people have changed with the COVID-19 pandemic situations both locally and abroad. We also examine if the impact of the pandemic might have varied with people's age, gender, education, and parental status. Data are from a random-sampled survey (N = 2,492) conducted in 2021–2022. We find that a more severe COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong is positively associated with one's migration intention. The migration intention of younger and more educated people is more strongly associated with the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong. However, the COVID-19 situation in the UK is not significantly associated with one's migration intention. Among people who intend to emigrate, a more severe local COVID-19 situation is positively associated with uncertainty about the timing of migration. We conclude by highlighting the significance of global pandemics in shaping migration decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Asian Population Studies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)