Talk Of HK Emigration Wave Not Appropriate: Beijing

A Beijing official overseeing Hong Kong affairs said on Tuesday that's it's not very appropriate for people to say that there is a wave of emigration from the SAR.

At a press briefing in Beijing, Huang Liuquan pointed to population statistics as he said a decline in Hong Kong's population has been caused by multiple factors and that population mobility is not a new phenomenon.

"I think it's not very appropriate to say that Hong Kong is experiencing an emigration wave. Hong Kong is entering a new phase of becoming more prosperous, from disarray to good governance. Hong Kong people are very confident towards the city's future," said Huang, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office.

Huang added that he believes more people will come to Hong Kong thanks to the administration's efforts to attract talent from the Greater Bay Area.

He also dismissed suggestions that Hong Kong's connections with the rest of the world have been damaged by the city's epidemic measures.

"The central government will continue to support Hong Kong to have close and extensive cooperation with the mainland and the rest of the world," he said.