Here for good? The unique nature of public attitudes toward highly skilled immigrants in Hong Kong

Abstract

ABSTRACT Most studies on immigration attitudes assume that natives overwhelmingly welcome highly skilled immigrants. I argue that this assumption, which commonly focuses on the economic benefits of immigrants’ skills, is problematic for two reasons. First, it neglects the incentives and conditions that countries need to offer to win talent. Second, natives prioritize different moral principles when evaluating high– and low-skilled immigrants. Based on 54 in-depth interviews conducted in Hong Kong, supplemented by an original online survey (N = 1,432), I show that public support for highly skilled immigrants is heavily driven by concerns about loyalty and equality. Specifically, natives reject highly skilled immigrants when they perceive them as opportunists who take advantage of the host economy or who stay only briefly. These perceptions are shaped by trust, preferences for equality, and, at the macro level, immigration policies. My findings underscore the need for greater attention to the distinct nature of public opinion about highly skilled immigration and, as the competition for global talent intensifies, to the public backlash against it.