香港回歸中國之前是港人移居海外的高峰期。數以萬計的香港人尋求外國居留權，加拿大成了他們熱門之選擇。移民來到新地方喜歡與背景相同的人聚居，幾年間在多倫多市的新開發區，華裔人口增加數倍，熱鬧得猶如一個小香港，與傳统的唐人街有很大分別。
移民抵步後都忙於置業，先讓自己和家人有個安樂窩，然後安排子女入學，最後才為自己尋找出路。一切由零開始，按步就班地重建根基。年紀較大和經濟條件許可的會選擇退休，開始他們人生新的一頁。
華人聚居之處，自成一角。他們開設和經營具有華人特色的商場，供應一切日常生活所需。除此之外，中文報章、華語電視和電臺亦盡量滿足了移民的精神生活。這類服務提供了不少方便，但也帶來了一些負面的影響：華人因為有太多選擇，不願放棄原有的生活方式。他們成為加國公民之後，日常講的仍舊是華語，吃的是唐餐，交往的總是一些同聲同氣的同胞。保持原有之生活方式對融入主流社會增加不少困難，對於一些非土生土長的年輕人也有不良影響。在假日或工餘和課餘時間瀏覽華人商場是他們的主要節目，看中文電影、唱國粵語流行曲成為了他們生活的主要內容。移民對身分認同含糊不清：名義上是加拿大人，心底裡卻忘不掉那條香港根。
回歸轉眼已過了十三年。在此期間，香港政改不停地在爭拗和舉步不前，經濟時好時壞，但它的重要性和對中國經濟發展的價值卻沒有改變。在過去的一年，香港的經濟環境已從弱轉強，刺激樓市和股市飊升，加上中國效應帶來的商機，使港人感到前途一片光明。這個現象吸引了不少移民回歸，再圖一試身手。尤其是年青之專業人士，對香港亦步亦趨，唯恐落後於同輩。據知不少朋友們之子女早已回流，而且一去不返，從此告別加拿大。回流早已形成風氣，波及了整個華裔社會。移民的原本目的却因時移世易而未能貫徹始終，是始料所不及。
黃啟樟。2010/10/21 (2010/10/28 多倫多現代日報) (2010/11/11 加拿大商報)
Dear David:
ReplyDeleteI enjoy very much of your expression of the real situation that people return back to Hong Kong.
Felix
David,
ReplyDeletePersonally I think the original purpose for the HK Chinese to migrate to Canada is the uncertainty of HK after 1997. Now that Hk continue to prosper, of course they return HK. You mention they can not sustain their original purpose by returning may have a different interpretation of their original purpose.
Eddie
David,
ReplyDeleteMost HK guys making that choice is for their kids to have a choice. I immigrate in the 88, at that time no Jun04 and nothing had really surface. My friends in the Laboratory field who chosen to do China trade for Laboratory Equipments was the first to take action. I find out from them the impression that the more you know about China the more scary you are because of how they worked back then. My way of looking at it is China will become good one day but when is that day is the big question mark. I done my immigration in a painful way as it was my starting of the golden time for my career. But decision had to be make as to better do it when I am still young believing that I can adapt more easily for changes in a new place.
Twenty years gone and knowing the Canadian system too deep which make me understand that the system is 天下烏鴉一樣黑, it is only the person who is in-charge that matters.
Second generation, I don't think they are fond of the HK or China system because they know they can have a much easier life in Canada. You can see that the next generation don't work as hard as we were before. The most scary OT system Eddie is mention is a big draw back for them to consider going back to the Asian society.
Communist or democratic is just a system, it depends on how you look at it. One party dominate sometimes work better but not always good. One good example is when China want something done it is done, but When Toronto want to build two more subway station along Sheppard Avenue, we need twenty years to make it happen. Airport at the Centre Island in Toronto, project set, deposit paid, one person object, whole project had to be reconsidered again. Election comes turn the project around, lost the deposit and on top pay penalty to the developer.
Whether to go back or not, I think is up to the person what he or she thinks which will be better for themselves. Giving them a hat, I don't think it is fair. We are not them and don't know what they have in mind.
Frankie Wai