Abstract
內地來港移民作為構成香港人口的重要部分，他們的社會經濟動態變化對香港社會經濟發展有著重要影響。基於2001年、2006年、2011年、2016年四次香港人口普查數據，本報告加入最新發表的2021年香港人口普查數據，延續《內地來港移民分析: 社會經濟地位的動態變化》報告中的內地來港移民分析。本報告特別聚焦於2016年和2021年香港人口普查的資料，輔以香港社區組織協會的會員調查，分析疫情對內地來港移民的影響。報告主要發現包括：
疫情期間內地移民來港受到嚴重影響，其中中小學齡兒童抵港時間受到推遲，可能長遠影響他們入讀大學的機會。居港少於一年的內地移民在 2021 年佔香港居民人口的比例較2016 年大幅下降 6 成，顯示疫情對內地移民的遷入造成了顯著阻礙。雖然各項內地移民
來港數字在 2023 年防疫措施解除後大致恢復至疫情前水平，但疫情推遲伴隨父母來港的中小學齡兒童抵港時間，可能造成他們入讀大學比率下降的長遠影響，這點相信對於父母以單程證來港、家庭資源較為匱乏的兒童影響最為嚴重。如何以輔助措施減低疫情對這些兒童入讀大學的負面影響，對香港邁向知識型經濟同樣重要。
疫情可能對內地移民低下階層的就業收入帶來長期負面影響。根據香港社區組織協會的會員調查，內地移民低下階層在疫情期間與防疫措施解除後，較香港整體社會展現出「高就業、低收入」，出現經濟學文獻中提及低下階層出於生活壓力而在經濟逆境時迫於
接受待遇較差工作的情況。基於就業收入的慣性，疫情對內地移民低下階層的收入打擊可能延續至疫情之後。事實上，在 2019 年的內地移民低下階層就業人口中，超過 6 成在2024 年的收入待遇較 2019 年為差，其中 21%更成為失業大軍的一員。另外，在 2020
年疫情初期失業的低下階層，超過一半在 2024 年仍然失業，可能反映存在經濟學上的磁滯性失業(hysteresis unemployment)。除了短期援助解決生活上的燃眉之急，如何協助相關群組重投能夠反映他們勞動價值的就業市場，將有助減緩香港的貧窮問題。
疫情期間停課對父母，特別是缺乏全面家庭網絡支援的內地新移民母親的就業帶來負面影響。疫情幾乎影響所有工作年齡人口的就業機率，其中疫情期間的大規模停課，則為父母的就業造成重大困擾。內地新移民母親在缺乏全面家庭網絡支援的情況下，就業受到特別嚴重的打擊。這個經驗不僅為日後類似的停課措施的有關成本提供重要參考，更為提高內地新移民母親就業帶來一定啟示。首先，中小學停課對內地新移民母親就業的嚴重打擊，反映中小學兼負的照顧兒童角色對父母就業有重大作用。由此，透過中小學加強對父母照顧兒童的支持可能對父母就業，特別是低下階層父母就業，有重要助力。另外，在學校以外能支援父母照顧兒童的措施和提升在家工作的能力，都有助增加父母的就業機率。
內地移民有助舒緩香港人口老化問題。假如過去 20 年沒有內地移民來港，2021 年香港人口年齡中位數將上升 2.3 歲至 49.6 歲，而代表未來勞動力供應的兒童人口和代表年輕勞動力的青年人口也會減少約 2 成。不過隨著內地來港年齡增加，香港需要維持外來人口流入避免早期內地來港居民最終加劇人口老化。
勞動人口參與、收入和貧窮率能隨居港年期改善。內地移民抵港時的勞動人口參與率和收入較香港出生居民為低，而貧窮率則較高。不過，隨著居港年期愈長，他們的勞動人口參與率和收入都會追近香港出生居民，而貧窮率亦會得到改善。
來港途徑增加使內地新移民背景漸趨多元。傳統上，大部分內地移民以單程證來港家庭團聚為主，但近年內地居民來港途徑增加，以單程證和單程證以外途徑來港的內地移民背景有明顯差異。兩者在職業及行業選擇上亦存在明顯差異。以單程證來港的內地移民
較多從事傳統行業，而單程證以外途徑來港的則更多從事金融、保險及專業服務業。
Immigrants from Mainland constitute an important part of the Hong Kong population, and dynamic changes in their socioeconomic status have significant implications for Hong Kong's development. Building upon the previous report based on the Population Census of 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016, this report incorporates the latest 2021 Hong Kong Population Census to update the analysis of mainland immigrants in Hong Kong. Specifically focusing on the 2016 and 2021 census data, supplemented by surveys from the Society of Community Organization (SoCO), this report analyses the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Mainland immigrants. Key findings include:
The number of Mainland immigrants in Hong Kong were severely impacted during the pandemic. The delayed arrival of school-aged children potentially affect their opportunities of receiving university education in the future. The proportion of mainland immigrants residing in Hong Kong for less than a year decreased significantly by 60% in 2021 compared to 2016, indicating a significant impediment to immigration due to the pandemic. While immigration numbers recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, the delayed arrival of school-aged children can have long-term effect, reducing their probability of attaining university. This particularly affects children from families with limited resources. Mitigating the negative impact on this group of children in receiving university education is crucial for Hong Kong's transition to a knowledge-based economy.
The effect of pandemic on employment income can be persistent for low-income Mainland immigrants. According to surveys conducted by the SoCO, low-income mainland immigrants exhibited a "high employment, low income" trend during and after the pandemic, reflecting the economic pressure forcing them into low-paying jobs. The income impact on low-income mainland immigrants could persist beyond the pandemic due to employment income inertia. Among the employed population of low-income Mainland immigrants in 2019, over 60% of them experienced lower income in 2024. In addition, about 21% of this employed population became
and remained unemployed in 2024. Among those who lost their jobs in 2020, over half of them remained unemployed in 2024. This phenomenon is consistent to the phenomenon of hysteresis unemployment found in other economic studies. Measures assisting these people in re-entering job market with positions that reflect their potential economic value, in addition to short-term assistance to address immediate needs, could contribute to the poverty alleviation in Hong Kong.
School closures during the pandemic negatively impacted parents, especially mainland immigrant mothers lacking support from family networks. The pandemic affected employment probabilities for almost all working-age populations, with widespread school closures causing significant disruptions to parents' employment. Mainland immigrant mothers, particularly those lacking support from family networks, faced severe challenges in employment. This experience provides important insights for future school closure measures and opportunities to enhance employment for mainland immigrant mothers. Strengthening support for parents in taking care of their children through schools could significantly aid parents' employment, especially for low-income parents. Childcare support outside of schools and measures enhancing remote working capabilities could increase parents' employment probabilities.
Mainland immigrants help slow down Hong Kong's aging population. Without the immigration of people from Mainland over the past 20 years, the median age of Hong Kong's population in 2021 would have increased by 2.3 years to 49.6 years. Additionally, the child population representing future labor supply and the youth population representing young labour force would have decreased by approximately 20%. To counter the aging effects of these aging, Hong Kong needs to maintain a steady inflow of new immigrants to avoid the early Mainland arrivals eventually exacerbating the population aging issue.
Labour force participation, income, and poverty rates of Mainland immigrants improve with years of residence in Hong Kong. Mainland immigrants exhibit lower labour force participation rates and income levels compared to Hong Kong-born residents upon arrival, with higher poverty rates. However, with longer residence in Hong Kong, their labour force participation and income levels converge with those of Hong Kong-born residents, and poverty rates improve.
Background of new immigrants from Mainland becomes more diverse with increasing alternative pathways for them to move to Hong Kong. Traditionally, majority of Mainland immigrants came to Hong Kong using the one-way permits for family reunion. However, the
increasing alternative pathways to Hong Kong has led to a more diverse backgrounds of these “new immigrants”. For example, one-way permit holders were more likely to engage in traditional industries while those using alternative pathways engaged in finance, insurance and professional services.
疫情期間內地移民來港受到嚴重影響，其中中小學齡兒童抵港時間受到推遲，可能長遠影響他們入讀大學的機會。居港少於一年的內地移民在 2021 年佔香港居民人口的比例較2016 年大幅下降 6 成，顯示疫情對內地移民的遷入造成了顯著阻礙。雖然各項內地移民
來港數字在 2023 年防疫措施解除後大致恢復至疫情前水平，但疫情推遲伴隨父母來港的中小學齡兒童抵港時間，可能造成他們入讀大學比率下降的長遠影響，這點相信對於父母以單程證來港、家庭資源較為匱乏的兒童影響最為嚴重。如何以輔助措施減低疫情對這些兒童入讀大學的負面影響，對香港邁向知識型經濟同樣重要。
疫情可能對內地移民低下階層的就業收入帶來長期負面影響。根據香港社區組織協會的會員調查，內地移民低下階層在疫情期間與防疫措施解除後，較香港整體社會展現出「高就業、低收入」，出現經濟學文獻中提及低下階層出於生活壓力而在經濟逆境時迫於
接受待遇較差工作的情況。基於就業收入的慣性，疫情對內地移民低下階層的收入打擊可能延續至疫情之後。事實上，在 2019 年的內地移民低下階層就業人口中，超過 6 成在2024 年的收入待遇較 2019 年為差，其中 21%更成為失業大軍的一員。另外，在 2020
年疫情初期失業的低下階層，超過一半在 2024 年仍然失業，可能反映存在經濟學上的磁滯性失業(hysteresis unemployment)。除了短期援助解決生活上的燃眉之急，如何協助相關群組重投能夠反映他們勞動價值的就業市場，將有助減緩香港的貧窮問題。
疫情期間停課對父母，特別是缺乏全面家庭網絡支援的內地新移民母親的就業帶來負面影響。疫情幾乎影響所有工作年齡人口的就業機率，其中疫情期間的大規模停課，則為父母的就業造成重大困擾。內地新移民母親在缺乏全面家庭網絡支援的情況下，就業受到特別嚴重的打擊。這個經驗不僅為日後類似的停課措施的有關成本提供重要參考，更為提高內地新移民母親就業帶來一定啟示。首先，中小學停課對內地新移民母親就業的嚴重打擊，反映中小學兼負的照顧兒童角色對父母就業有重大作用。由此，透過中小學加強對父母照顧兒童的支持可能對父母就業，特別是低下階層父母就業，有重要助力。另外，在學校以外能支援父母照顧兒童的措施和提升在家工作的能力，都有助增加父母的就業機率。
內地移民有助舒緩香港人口老化問題。假如過去 20 年沒有內地移民來港，2021 年香港人口年齡中位數將上升 2.3 歲至 49.6 歲，而代表未來勞動力供應的兒童人口和代表年輕勞動力的青年人口也會減少約 2 成。不過隨著內地來港年齡增加，香港需要維持外來人口流入避免早期內地來港居民最終加劇人口老化。
勞動人口參與、收入和貧窮率能隨居港年期改善。內地移民抵港時的勞動人口參與率和收入較香港出生居民為低，而貧窮率則較高。不過，隨著居港年期愈長，他們的勞動人口參與率和收入都會追近香港出生居民，而貧窮率亦會得到改善。
來港途徑增加使內地新移民背景漸趨多元。傳統上，大部分內地移民以單程證來港家庭團聚為主，但近年內地居民來港途徑增加，以單程證和單程證以外途徑來港的內地移民背景有明顯差異。兩者在職業及行業選擇上亦存在明顯差異。以單程證來港的內地移民
較多從事傳統行業，而單程證以外途徑來港的則更多從事金融、保險及專業服務業。
Immigrants from Mainland constitute an important part of the Hong Kong population, and dynamic changes in their socioeconomic status have significant implications for Hong Kong's development. Building upon the previous report based on the Population Census of 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016, this report incorporates the latest 2021 Hong Kong Population Census to update the analysis of mainland immigrants in Hong Kong. Specifically focusing on the 2016 and 2021 census data, supplemented by surveys from the Society of Community Organization (SoCO), this report analyses the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Mainland immigrants. Key findings include:
The number of Mainland immigrants in Hong Kong were severely impacted during the pandemic. The delayed arrival of school-aged children potentially affect their opportunities of receiving university education in the future. The proportion of mainland immigrants residing in Hong Kong for less than a year decreased significantly by 60% in 2021 compared to 2016, indicating a significant impediment to immigration due to the pandemic. While immigration numbers recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2023, the delayed arrival of school-aged children can have long-term effect, reducing their probability of attaining university. This particularly affects children from families with limited resources. Mitigating the negative impact on this group of children in receiving university education is crucial for Hong Kong's transition to a knowledge-based economy.
The effect of pandemic on employment income can be persistent for low-income Mainland immigrants. According to surveys conducted by the SoCO, low-income mainland immigrants exhibited a "high employment, low income" trend during and after the pandemic, reflecting the economic pressure forcing them into low-paying jobs. The income impact on low-income mainland immigrants could persist beyond the pandemic due to employment income inertia. Among the employed population of low-income Mainland immigrants in 2019, over 60% of them experienced lower income in 2024. In addition, about 21% of this employed population became
and remained unemployed in 2024. Among those who lost their jobs in 2020, over half of them remained unemployed in 2024. This phenomenon is consistent to the phenomenon of hysteresis unemployment found in other economic studies. Measures assisting these people in re-entering job market with positions that reflect their potential economic value, in addition to short-term assistance to address immediate needs, could contribute to the poverty alleviation in Hong Kong.
School closures during the pandemic negatively impacted parents, especially mainland immigrant mothers lacking support from family networks. The pandemic affected employment probabilities for almost all working-age populations, with widespread school closures causing significant disruptions to parents' employment. Mainland immigrant mothers, particularly those lacking support from family networks, faced severe challenges in employment. This experience provides important insights for future school closure measures and opportunities to enhance employment for mainland immigrant mothers. Strengthening support for parents in taking care of their children through schools could significantly aid parents' employment, especially for low-income parents. Childcare support outside of schools and measures enhancing remote working capabilities could increase parents' employment probabilities.
Mainland immigrants help slow down Hong Kong's aging population. Without the immigration of people from Mainland over the past 20 years, the median age of Hong Kong's population in 2021 would have increased by 2.3 years to 49.6 years. Additionally, the child population representing future labor supply and the youth population representing young labour force would have decreased by approximately 20%. To counter the aging effects of these aging, Hong Kong needs to maintain a steady inflow of new immigrants to avoid the early Mainland arrivals eventually exacerbating the population aging issue.
Labour force participation, income, and poverty rates of Mainland immigrants improve with years of residence in Hong Kong. Mainland immigrants exhibit lower labour force participation rates and income levels compared to Hong Kong-born residents upon arrival, with higher poverty rates. However, with longer residence in Hong Kong, their labour force participation and income levels converge with those of Hong Kong-born residents, and poverty rates improve.
Background of new immigrants from Mainland becomes more diverse with increasing alternative pathways for them to move to Hong Kong. Traditionally, majority of Mainland immigrants came to Hong Kong using the one-way permits for family reunion. However, the
increasing alternative pathways to Hong Kong has led to a more diverse backgrounds of these “new immigrants”. For example, one-way permit holders were more likely to engage in traditional industries while those using alternative pathways engaged in finance, insurance and professional services.
| Translated title of the contribution | A Study of the Socio-Economic Status of Mainland Immigrants in Hong Kong: Changes Since the Pandemic Outbreak |
|---|---|
| Original language | Chinese (Traditional) |
| Publisher | 香港浸會大學可持續發展研究中心 |
| Commissioning body | Society for Community Organization |
| Number of pages | 41 |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2025 |