Under the tide of immigrants in Hong Kong, a group of special tourists are also experiencing the sorrow of parting—the pets of immigrants.
According to Hong Kong government statistics, nearly 50,000 residents will move out of Hong Kong in 2020, a record high in 10 years, and the demand for pet immigration has also increased sharply.
In order to immigrate to Ireland safely with her 16-year-old pet dog Karta, Maggie (Lin Shuling) chose to take a private jet at a cost of nearly 300,000 Hong Kong dollars.
“My friend said all day long, ‘Wow, it’s so expensive to take away (pets).’ I said, will you leave your son behind when you immigrate?” Maggie said that she was never willing to leave Karta behind and immigrate alone .
However, not all owners are able or willing to bear such high immigration costs for their pets. From 2020, the animal temporary care center “A stick house” located in the outer suburbs of Hong Kong has received an average of three or four dogs abandoned by immigrants every month.
Interview: Wang Zhejun
Filming: Wang Zhejun, Ye Jingsi, Guan Meiqing
Editing: Wang Zhejun
