Emigration tendencies among Hong Kong Chinese dentists--1990

A postal questionnaire survey was conducted in April-May 1990 among 1223 Hong Kong Chinese dentists resident in Hong Kong to ascertain their plans for emigration from the Territory, as there were no data on emigration trends among dentists. A response rate of 47 per cent was obtained. Only 7 per cent of respondents definitely did not plan to emigrate and 47 per cent planned definitely or hopefully to emigrate, mostly in the years prior to 1997. Canada, Australia and the United States of America were the destinations most commonly cited by those planning to emigrate, and only one-quarter of these have any plans to return to Hong Kong. It was concluded that the emigration and return of Hong Kong dentists would influence workforce planning in the territory, and thus should be monitored.