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Return Migrant or Diaspora: An Exploratory Study of New-Generation Chinese–Canadian Youth Working in Hong Kong

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Abstract

The circular movement of migrants between their homelands and adopted countries has problematized the previous linear understanding of return migration. However, the concept of circular migration tends to apply to migrants whose movement is enabled by their extensive pre-migration connections with their homelands. In this paper, we report findings of a study on a group of new-generation Chinese–Canadian youth working in Hong Kong. Although, like many return migrants, this group of young people had economic reasons for moving to Hong Kong (their parents' homeland), they do not position themselves as return migrants. Instead, they have kept a strong Canadian identity by maintaining unique friendship circles and perceiving Canada as a home to which they will one day return. We highlight in this paper some implications of their experiences for transnational migration studies.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Social Work, The University of British Columbia, 2080 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z2

    Miu Chung Yan

  2. Department of Social Work, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territory, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region

    Ching Man Lam

  3. Department of Sociology, The University of British Columbia, 6303 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T 1Z1

    Sean Lauer

Authors
  1. Miu Chung Yan
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  2. Ching Man Lam
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  3. Sean Lauer
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miu Chung Yan.

Appendix 1 (Interview Guides)

Appendix 1 (Interview Guides)

  1. A.

    Parents

  2. 1.

    What made your child decide to find work in Hong Kong instead of elsewhere?

  3. 2.

    How was the process from job search to relocation? What were the major issues and challenges?

  4. 3.

    What possible influence may his/her decision have on your family?

  5. 4.

    What kinds of connection with Canada does s/he maintain?

  6. 5.

    Does s/he have any plan of moving back to Canada?

  7. a.

    If no, why?

  8. b.

    If yes, when and under what conditions?

  9. 6.

    What kinds of concerns and suggestions that you have regarding how Canadian government can support you and your family to connect your child with Canada?

  10. B.

    Youth

  11. 1.

    What made you decide to find work in Hong Kong instead of elsewhere?

  12. 2.

    How was the process from job search to relocation? What were the major issues and challenges?

  13. 3.

    What were your family reactions to your decision?

  14. 4.

    What possible influence may your decision have on your family?

  15. 5.

    How do you perceive your Canadian identity now when working in Hong Kong?

  16. 6.

    What kinds of connection with Canada do you maintain?

  17. 7.

    Do you think that you are acting as a connector between Canada and Hong Kong/China? If so, how?

  18. 8.

    Do you have any plan of moving back to Canada?

  19. a.

    If no, why?

  20. b.

    If yes, when and under what conditions?

  21. 9.

    What kinds of concerns and suggestions that you have regarding how Canadian government can support you in connection with Canada?

  22. C.

    Focus Group

  23. 1.

    What made Chinese Canadian youth decide to find work in Hong Kong instead of elsewhere?

  24. 2.

    How will you understand this phenomenon in terms of the government policies and programs for immigrant and for youth?

  25. 3.

    What can be done to retain these youth in Canada?

  26. 4.

    What possible influence may their decision have on their family?

  27. 5.

    What possible influence may their decision have on the Chinese community?

  28. 6.

    How do you perceive these youth as a connector between Canada and Hong Kong/China? In what areas do you think they can be a useful connection?

  29. 7.

    What kinds of concerns and suggestions that you have regarding how Canadian government can support these youth connect with Canada?

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Yan, M.C., Lam, C.M. & Lauer, S. Return Migrant or Diaspora: An Exploratory Study of New-Generation Chinese–Canadian Youth Working in Hong Kong. Int. Migration & Integration 15, 179–196 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-013-0274-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12134-013-0274-8

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