Ever since its promulgation by China's top legislature last June, the National Security Law now in force in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region has become the bête noire of many China-bashing politicians and media outlets in the West, who have taken every opportunity to besmirch it.
It will therefore surprise few that they have been quick to pick up on a recent survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong to once again predict the law heralds a "potential expatriate exodus" from Hong Kong.
The survey reportedly found that 42 percent of the 325 members of AmCham who responded to the survey－24 percent of the organization's total number of members－planned to or were considering leaving Hong Kong, with many citing "discomfort" with the National Security Law as one of the reasons.
Since most places have laws to safeguard national security, one wonders where they might go to feel comfortable. And since it is unlikely that any foreign investors or expatriates engaged in normal business operations will run foul of the law, most of those expressing the sentiment will likely and rightly conclude there is no reason to move.
Some foreigners and so-called NGOs conducting subversive activities under different guises in Hong Kong do have a reason though to flee the city. But that being said, many of them shut down their operations in the SAR immediately after the promulgation of the National Security Law on June 30 last year, with some having settled or rebuilt their base of operations elsewhere.
The fact is, a national security law of broader range, promulgated by China's top legislature for implementation on the Chinese mainland on July 1, 2015, hasn't chipped away at the mainland's attractiveness as one of the most favored destinations for foreign direct investment over the years. In fact, the mainland brought in more foreign direct investment than any other country in 2020, knocking the United States from its perch atop the list.
And the truth can be easily seen that the introduction of the National Security Law in Hong Kong, which targets only separatist activities, subversion of State power, terrorism and external interference, has in no way affected the lives of most people in the region, including expatriates going about their normal business.
The suggestion of a "potential expatriate exodus" from Hong Kong because of the implementation of the security law is nothing but the sounding of a wishful death knell on the part of those who wish to see Hong Kong's economy falter.