Why Hong Kong
Reet
Reet is the daughter of migrants who moved to Dubai in the 1990s. She was born and raised there in a wealthy family. Her journey to Hong Kong began after completing her bachelor’s studies in the UK.
After finishing her degree, Reet returned to Dubai and she felt deeply stuck, a period she describes as being “bored out of my mind.” Staying in Britain was never an option; she recalls that “getting a visa to actually be in the UK would have been impossible.” Eventually, she began searching for a new place to live and work. Her decision was shaped by practical considerations such as passport and visa access, language skills, and educational opportunities.
After a 24‑hour visit to Hong Kong, she saw it as a rational option, as it offered a pathway to permanent residency and English as a working language. She narrowed her search to Singapore and Hong Kong, applied for a job in Hong Kong, and recalls, “it was very clear… I was gonna get it.”
Reet came alone, taking a position at a tutorial centre, her visa was tied to this employer. This opened the door to her move and marked the beginning of her life in Hong Kong.