More Hongkongers set sights on West

Inquiries about immigrating to the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, and Canada surged more than 230 percent this month from June, as more Hongkongers expressed a preference for immigrating to the four countries to other Asian regions after the UK and Australia revealed plans to relax visa and immigration policies, Midland Immigration Consultancy said.

Inquiries for the four countries comprised half of all inquiries in September, data from the consultancy showed.

In June, 60 percent of immigration inquiries were about Asia, and inquiries for four countries was only 15 percent three months ago.

The consultancy received 62.5 percent fewer inquiries - around 300 - this month compared to the peak in May. The relaxation of regulations changed the minds of those who wanted to move to Asian regions, especially Taiwan, the most.

Tina Cheng, senior director of business strategy at the consultancy pointed out some of them planned to immigrate using their British National (Overseas) status or get a 'Leave Outside The Rules to Britain' at the border at zero cost. Some of them chose to buy residential property before they move.

Meanwhile, British home prices will rise 2 percent this year following a post-lockdown boom in the housing market, according to a Reuters poll.

But prices will stagnate next year after the tax break end and due to an expected spike in unemployment following the end of the government's furlough scheme.