[andy8002001]

It has often been said that companies in HK now like to hire expats who were born in mainland China (or are from a Mandarin-speaking background) but subsequently educated at high schools and universities in Western countries. This hiring trend seems particularly dominant in the financial and legal sectors.

It is in stark contrast to the previous trend of hiring non-Asian expats who could not speak a word of Chinese.

Do people think that the future of non-Asian expats in HK is bleak, especially for those seeking to change careers or jobs ?

(PS - this is not a 'racial' post, so please don't make any derogatory comments in that regard).

[Baron]

I think in the case of management though, many non asian expats will still come here as part of western businesses set up here. Though, times will change eventually i guess.

[Raz]

Yes, I think the situation will change.

The competition amongst mainland-students are very high considering their cheer number. I study at HKU at the moment, and the mainlanders who get in here, all have straight A:s, are the only child and their parents rented hotel rooms by the hour for them to study in before exams, just because of the aircon.

The pressure on these people to perform is just crazy.

At the end of the day, it will not take many years for companies to realize that they soon can get people who;

1. Understands the local market.
2. Speaks fluent English, Mandarin and sometimes canto.
3. Are well educated and have western management skills.

/ R

[Katanga]

Don't forget the soft factors like management abilities, leadership qualities etc which will take a few generations for a mindset change.

[jimbo]

Originally Posted by Raz

At the end of the day, it will not take many years for companies to realize that they soon can get people who;

1. Understands the local market.
2. Speaks fluent English, Mandarin and sometimes canto.
3. Are well educated and have western management skills.

/ R

not forgetting cheap!

[andy8002001]

The first batch of chinese students only went to the US to study postgraduate qualifications in the early 1980s, so they would now be over 40.

However, the next generation of top mainland students (now in their 20s) went overseas at a young age (say high school) and were able to acquire Western leadership and management skills there.

I guess companies now have a choice of hiring top mainland Western-educated people who are 90% fluent in English but 100% fluent in Chinese, and non-Asian expats who are only 100% fluent in English. I don't think people in the former category are "cheap" to hire though........they can in fact command a premium over the latter category.

It's interesting to note that HK may become less 'international' as it focuses its effort on mainland China. (Not a criticism, just an observation). What do people think?

[Laughing_Monkey]

personally i'm not convinced HK will hold on to its World City status, its fast loosing its 'edge' as the leading city in this part of the world and will no doubt play second fiddle to the likes of seoul or singapore in the not so distant future.

I could elaborate for pages, but seeing as i'll prob have to write an essay on this soon, i'm going to save myself....

[DucksOnThePond]

I beg to differ - HK will probably be increasingly inward (China) looking but it doesn't necessarily mean it'll be less international. As long as the Chinese economy stays vibrant and there's money to be made, people will come. The international community might change from one that's strictly English-speaking to one that's more Mandarin (with a hodgepodge of accents).

I find it interesting that you mentioned Singapore which I think is struggling to maintain its relevancy. It's going through identity crises (there's just no "core" to the place) and the government is pulling all the strings to retain talent.

[Laughing_Monkey]

but the key regional city in this region (South Asia Pacific) is one that has an integrated role in the wider economy and acts as a gateway - economically/culturally/socially to the whole area and its composite parts....

[DucksOnThePond]

I see what you mean LaughingMonkey but the gateway argument doesn't hold water. Just look at New York or Tokyo or Paris (which is probably the most xenophobic place I've ever been to). People are attracted to those cities not because they're interested in the various ethnic subgroups but because those cities are beacons of their respective cultures. I grant you that the international element does play an important supporting role. I know it sounds somewhat contradictory but I think HK will become more international as it becomes increasingly Chinese. China serves as the anchor. Now, that's better than HK being an extension of London - you can get the real London in London.