The expat exodus - the impact of political unrest and COVID-19 on expatriate assignments in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, one of the world’s most dynamic and thriving cities, has been plagued by political unrest and a pandemic in recent years. Expatriates, who form a significant part of Hong Kong’s workforce, have been severely impacted by these developments, which led to an exodus of expats from the city. This research aims to explore how the political unrest and COVID-19 pandemic have affected the lives of expatriates in Hong Kong. Despite its global significance, extant research on the challenges expatriates faced during this period of crisis remains limited. This study therefore examines the impact each of these crises had on expatriates, which ultimately influenced their decisions to terminate their assignments early and withdraw from Hong Kong. Based on 20 semi-structured interviews with 20 expatriates who resided in Hong Kong during the period of political unrest and the COVID-19, this study shows significant contributors to the expat exodus in Hong Kong such as the safety threats brought on by the violent protests and the long-standing strict COVID-19 restrictions which induced a heightened-level of anxiety and uncertainty. This research contributes to the existing knowledge of expatriation management by uncovering the lived experience of expats in hostile environment.