Can one-way permit system alleviate labor shortage in Hong Kong?

Abstract

Hong Kong's immigration history has close interrelatedness with the socio-economic development in China. One of the immigration history was signified by the One-way permit system, which was first introduced in the 1950s. The One-way permit system is featured as a point-based system to enable the eligible Mainland residents to settle in Hong Kong for the sole purpose of family reunion. Due to a reversal of cross-boundary marriage pattern, the quota of the One-way permit was concomitantly under-utilized. The median age of the One-way permit holders increased in such a way that the holders aged 25-34 and 35-44 increased substantially from 22% in 1998 to 42% in 2016 while there was a sharp cut of One-way permit holders aged 5-14 from 50% in 1998 to 11% in 2016. Apart from the increasing median age, the One-way permit holders predominantly were secondary schoolers. They were economically inactive before moving to Hong Kong but most indicated the interest to work in Hong Kong. The profile appears unattractive to alleviate the labor shortage in Hong Kong. Worse still, the One-way permit system creates the other problems such as the split families, quota misuse by the Mainland officials, and the difficulty of One-way permit holders to integrate into Hong Kong society. A comprehensive population policy entails the departure from the colonial legacy to give the HKSAR government authority to vet and approve the applications.