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It’s official. Hong Kong is now home to Asia’s largest population of French expats, having overtaken Shanghai, that long-time Gallic stronghold. It’s quite an achievement given that Hong Kong was once a British colony. As recently as 2016, UK-ers were still the city’s largest Western cohort. But now, that particular claim to fame has been wrested from them by the French.
<figure id="attachment_35507" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-35507" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-35507 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Why-have-so-many-French-expats-descended-on-our-city.jpg" alt="Why have so many French expats descended on our city" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Why-have-so-many-French-expats-descended-on-our-city.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Why-have-so-many-French-expats-descended-on-our-city-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Why-have-so-many-French-expats-descended-on-our-city-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Why-have-so-many-French-expats-descended-on-our-city-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Why-have-so-many-French-expats-descended-on-our-city-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Why-have-so-many-French-expats-descended-on-our-city-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Why-have-so-many-French-expats-descended-on-our-city-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-35507" class="wp-caption-text">Why have so many French expats descended on our city in recent years?</figcaption></figure>
In fact, the surge in républicain residents is nothing short of spectacular. Shedding a little light on this influx, French Consul General Eric Berti says: “Over the last decade, we have seen the number of French expats double in size. The average year-on-year growth is around five percent and we even had one year where our numbers jumped by more than 10 percent.”
While there’s no denying that this represents a marked increase, France and Hong Kong have enjoyed a discreet dalliance since before the First Opium War. But why are so many French citizens making the 9,800-km trip east to HK today? Well, work, as you might expect, is quite an influential factor.
<figure id="attachment_35502" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-35502" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-35502 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-love-Sai-Ying-Pun-also-known-as-Little-Paris.jpg" alt="French expats love Sai Ying Pun, also known as Little Paris" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-love-Sai-Ying-Pun-also-known-as-Little-Paris.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-love-Sai-Ying-Pun-also-known-as-Little-Paris-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-love-Sai-Ying-Pun-also-known-as-Little-Paris-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-love-Sai-Ying-Pun-also-known-as-Little-Paris-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-love-Sai-Ying-Pun-also-known-as-Little-Paris-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-love-Sai-Ying-Pun-also-known-as-Little-Paris-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-love-Sai-Ying-Pun-also-known-as-Little-Paris-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-35502" class="wp-caption-text">A gathering in the &#8216;Frenchified&#8217; neighbourhood of Sai Ying Pun, also known as &#8216;Little Paris&#8217;</figcaption></figure>
According to the French Chamber of Commerce, there are more than 800 French companies active in Hong Kong. Some 60 percent are retail-related, most likely using the city as a springboard into the Mainland market. A further 25 percent are involved in finance and insurance – again, not a surprise, given the country’s penchant for all things mathematical.
Perhaps the largest – and most welcome – by-product of this mass migration has been the stratospheric rise of French gastronomy in Hong Kong. In addition to three-Michelin-starred L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon and three two-starred Gallic eateries – Amber, Caprice and Pierre, there’s also a raft of up-and-coming restaurants stepping into the spotlight.
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-35501 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-have-spotlighted-Frances-gastronomy.jpg" alt="French expats have spotlighted France's gastronomy" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-have-spotlighted-Frances-gastronomy.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-have-spotlighted-Frances-gastronomy-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-have-spotlighted-Frances-gastronomy-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-have-spotlighted-Frances-gastronomy-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-have-spotlighted-Frances-gastronomy-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-have-spotlighted-Frances-gastronomy-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-expats-have-spotlighted-Frances-gastronomy-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" />
France’s charm offensive is not just on the food front. Hong Kong’s social calendar is now replete French cultural events, including <a href="https://frenchmay.com/en/home/">Le French May</a>, the annual month-long showcase of French films, art and food.
The efficacy of this charm offensive is clear, but what exactly is the appeal of this faraway quasi-city-state for so many French expats?
For Consul General Berti, it’s just the latest chapter in a 170-plus-year love story. Expanding on his theme, he says: “Hong Kong has fascinated our people – especially our young – for many years. Currently, more than 60 percent of the French nationals living here are working professionals aged 35 or less.&nbsp;They are drawn by the city’s vibrancy, friendliness and high quality of life. It’s a city where they feel they can truly succeed.”
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter wp-image-35506 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Le-French-May-is-about-to-kick-off.jpg" alt="Le French May is about to kick off" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Le-French-May-is-about-to-kick-off.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Le-French-May-is-about-to-kick-off-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Le-French-May-is-about-to-kick-off-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Le-French-May-is-about-to-kick-off-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Le-French-May-is-about-to-kick-off-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" />
Berti’s sentiments certainly seemed to resonate with Ben, a French banker who first came to Hong Kong in 2011. He explains: “As I’d always been attracted to Asian culture, when France was hit by the global monetary crisis, moving to a thriving financial hub like Hong Kong seemed a no-brainer.”
Given that the wider world is finally recovering from the global financial tsunami of 2008, which brought Ben and countless others to Hong Kong’s shores, does this mean that the years of mass French immigration are now coming to the end?
<figure id="attachment_35505" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-35505" style="width: 700px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-35505 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Last-years-French-Day-at-the-races.jpg" alt="Last year's French Day at the races" width="700" height="466" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Last-years-French-Day-at-the-races.jpg 700w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Last-years-French-Day-at-the-races-200x133.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Last-years-French-Day-at-the-races-421x280.jpg 421w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Last-years-French-Day-at-the-races-120x80.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Last-years-French-Day-at-the-races-500x333.jpg 500w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Last-years-French-Day-at-the-races-400x266.jpg 400w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Last-years-French-Day-at-the-races-600x399.jpg 600w" sizes="(max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-35505" class="wp-caption-text">Last year&#8217;s French Day at the races</figcaption></figure>
Taking a philosophical view of such a notion, Berti says: “There’s a lot of excitement in France now with the rise of Macron [the newly-elected president]. There’s a big push to be a part of the reform that seems to be on the horizon. So perhaps it will attract some to return home…”
Ben, however, sees it as a more distant prospect, saying: “Even if the new reforms have a positive impact, it’s hard to predict the long-term result. I’d rather wait and see before considering a move back.”
<figure id="attachment_35500" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-35500" style="width: 466px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-35500 size-full" src="//www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-acrobatic-duo-La-Main-sAffaire.jpg" alt="French acrobatic duo La Main s'Affaire" width="466" height="700" srcset="https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-acrobatic-duo-La-Main-sAffaire.jpg 466w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-acrobatic-duo-La-Main-sAffaire-200x300.jpg 200w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-acrobatic-duo-La-Main-sAffaire-186x280.jpg 186w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-acrobatic-duo-La-Main-sAffaire-120x180.jpg 120w, https://www.gafencushop.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/French-acrobatic-duo-La-Main-sAffaire-400x601.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 466px) 100vw, 466px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-35500" class="wp-caption-text">French duo La Main s&#8217;Affaire&#8217;s acrobatic act was part of last year&#8217;s Le French May</figcaption></figure>
Adrian, one of the more recent French expats to arrive in Hong Kong, is of a similar mindset, saying: “Even with the new president, France is not as competitive, in business terms, as many other countries. While I enjoyed living in France, I prefer to be in a more dynamic working environment.”
Given the clear alignment between France and Hong Kong, could there one day be a more formal arrangement? With the UK exiting the EU, is there a Hong-Kong-shaped gap there waiting to be filled? Well, probably not. There does, however, seem every certainty that the unlikely pairing of this far-away Asian city and its European soulmate is only set to continue. As to the future, well – as they say in downtown Sai Ying Pun – qui sait?
Text: Tenzing Thondup 
Images: AFP, Le French May

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Franc Exchanges: Why do so many French expats opt for an HK home?