The Challenges of Uprooting to Canada

Transition from Hong Kong to Canada not that easy

While it is great the Canadian government is offering specific pathways to permanent residency to young Hongkongers, many of the ones that are here are having a tough time.

Generally speaking, these people in their 20s have either recently graduated from university or have one or two years' working experience. As a result they have not accumulated much savings when they come to Canada.

Many young migrants feel lost in Canada

Many of them are overwhelmed, having to start fresh with limited resources, as they find everything is expensive, from rent to food and necessities. One told a friend that she only had C$50 left to buy food. I wondered how she managed to get enough nutrition everyday.

As they don't have many qualifications or work experience, many of these young people are stuck in retail or hospitality jobs, earning a low salary with few benefits until they become eligible to become a permanent resident.

But perhaps most importantly, many here are lost and wondering what they are doing here. Many left because of the repercussions of the 2019 protests, or they did not see a future for themselves in Hong Kong. However now they are wondering if they made the right move and if they are stuck in Canada for good.

Feeling lost can be scary and undermine one's self-confidence. This same friend told me of young people who were very depressed, some of them to the point of being suicidal which is shocking and sad to hear.

Ho struggled to pay for rent and food in the UK 

It reminds me of the 27-year-old woman Fion Ho Yee-king who died by suicide in November 2022 in the UK after struggling to afford to pay her rent and food. 

Ho had a Master's degree in international affairs, but could not find a better-paying job, and was forced to live in a flat share that she described as unhygienic. She also had to choose between eating either lunch or dinner each day to save some money.

Is the Canadian government aware of these young people in the country struggling to make ends meet?

The sudden migration of people from Hong Kong has left many of them unmoored -- they did not choose to leave their hometown -- the government made repression in the city so unbearable that they didn't have much choice but to leave.

Hopefully these young Hongkongers can seek help from NGOs that help immigrants settle, get help with finding food, and know they are not alone.