對大多數移民來說, 移民到澳洲生活是一個選擇, 更是一個不容易的選擇。不容易的原因, 是因為每一個人都不能確定來到澳洲後生活會是如何, 但卻體會到要失去不少原來已經擁有的。

2017年以前, 大多數從香港來的留學生, 選擇畢業後留在澳洲工作或移民的, 比例並不高。剛畢業的大學生原本就沒有擁有很多可以失去的東西, 但原來的朋友、熟識的生活模式、及香港過去經濟發展給人的機會, 令到大多數的香港留學生選擇畢業後都回到香港去。不過2019年後, 香港政治環境及經濟發展完全改變, 一下子香港留學生移民澳洲比例大幅提升。2020年避風港計劃實施後, 所有持香港護照的大學畢業生都能夠留下, 更變成了這些年青人選擇到澳洲留學的原因。

中國來的留學生與澳洲的關係更是複雜。八十年代中國改革開放後公費留學澳洲的不少是國家重點培養的共產黨幹部, 這群人一下子因著六四事件而在未有準備下留在澳洲, 改變了他們的人生, 90年代後他們的父母不少也因此來到了澳洲定居。2000年後中國經濟起飛後來到澳洲的留學生, 不管通過任何方法都要成取得永久居留權, 因為家族資產、親友的生意、國家資金及投資, 都通過他們遷來了澳洲。不過到今天情況已經不再一樣, 新來的中國留學生都抱著要比較一下中澳兩地生活, 看一下自己是否真的喜歡澳洲生活, 才作出是否移民的決定。他們盼望在這裏留學建立的生活及工作經驗, 可以為自己的將來舖一條更好的路。若然他們選擇留下來, 也是他們人生規劃的重要改變。

真的, 移民會給在人生不同階段的每一個人, 一個改變自己人生軌跡的機會。我們來到這裏以後, 是否都開始在澳洲這一片土地上, 建立一個與原來自己不同的人生呢? 但我們見到不少來自香港或中國經濟條件不錯的移民, 他們選擇定居澳洲後, 卻仍希望在澳洲維持在原居地享有的經濟優勢, 而沒有去探索這一個國家, 可以為他們提供怎樣的人生契機。不少人只見到澳洲社會並沒有像原居地可以給他們更多已經擁有的經濟發展機會, 因而變成對這國家埋怨及不滿。

成功融入澳洲的移民, 都是那些看到澳洲這國家給了他們機會的一群。

周偉文 社長

Grasping Life’s Opportunities

For most immigrants, moving to Australia is a choice—and more importantly, not an easy one. The difficulty lies in the uncertainty of what life will be like after arriving in Australia, coupled with the realization that one must give up many things already possessed.

Before 2017, among international students from Hong Kong, the proportion who chose to stay in Australia to work or immigrate after graduation was not high. Newly graduated university students did not have much to lose materially, but existing friendships, familiar lifestyles, and the opportunities created by Hong Kong’s past economic development led most Hong Kong students to return home after graduation. However, after 2019, Hong Kong’s political environment and economic development changed completely, and the proportion of Hong Kong students immigrating to Australia rose sharply. Following the implementation of the ‘Safe Haven Policy’ in 2020, all university graduates holding Hong Kong passports were able to stay, which in turn became a reason many young people chose to study in Australia.

The relationship between Chinese international students and Australia is even more complex. After China’s reform and opening up in the 1980s, many of those who were sent to Australia on government-sponsored study programs were key Communist Party cadres being groomed by the state. Due to the 4th June Incident, many of them ended up staying in Australia unexpectedly, thus dramatically changing the course of their lives. In the 1990s, many of their parents also moved to Australia to settle permanently. After 2000, as China’s economy took off, international students coming to Australia were determined to obtain permanent residency by any means, as family assets, relatives’ businesses, state funds, and investments were transferred to Australia through them. Today, however, the situation is no longer the same. New Chinese students tend to compare life in China and Australia, deciding whether they truly like living in Australia before choosing whether to immigrate. They hope that the life and work experience gained during their studies here can pave a better path for their future. If they do choose to stay, it represents a significant detour in their life path  

Indeed, immigration offers people at different stages of life an opportunity to change the trajectory of their lives. After arriving here, do we begin to build a life on Australian soil that is different from the one we had before? Yet we see many immigrants from Hong Kong or China who are relatively well-off financially… after settling in Australia, they still hope to maintain the economic advantages they enjoyed in their places of origin, without exploring what kinds of life opportunities this country might offer them. Many focus only on the fact that Australian society does not provide the same economic development opportunities they once had, which leads to complaints and dissatisfaction on the country.

Those immigrants who successfully integrate into Australian society though are the ones who recognize the opportunities that Australia has given them.

Mr. Raymond Chow, Publisher