Photo: RFA
Google search engine results have indicated a sharp rise in the number of searches for emigration-related topics from Hong Kong since China first mooted the draconian national security law for the city, which took effect from July 1. Emigrating to Taiwan and emigrating to Canada were among top searches from Hong Kong, along with keywords relating to offshore accounts with foreign-based banks including HSBC, suggesting that the city s middle-class families are at least thinking about leaving.
The incidence of keyword searches linked to emigration rose sharply from mid-May, when China s National People s Congress (NPC) standing committee first started discussing the new law, which bans peaceful criticism of the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), the Hong Kong government, and pro-democracy slogans linked to last year s protest movement.