Reimmigration, Resettlement and Reintegration: A Case Study of Recent Hong Kong Re-return Immigrants


Ka Po Kong, University of British Columbia; Frankie Cabahug, University of British Columbia

In the 21st century, return, repeat, and circular migration have become more prominent, introducing new time-space dynamics and intensifying research interest in non-static migration patterns. Existing literature has identified patterns of human migration activities, including repeat and circular migration between immigrants and guestworker host countries (Constant and Zimmermann, 2003, 2011, 2012), and onward emigration due to global labour market changes (Aydemir and Robinson, 2008; Nekby, 2006). For example, Bratsberg et al. (2007) document an increasing migration trend among Pakistani immigrants returning to Pakistan and later returning to Norway, defining a re-return (or post-return) dynamic. This re-return migration dynamic suggests a unique experience for those who possess previous experiences with the host country and re-engage in settlement and integration. While increasing discussion focus on motivations, incentives and enabling factors for return migration, limited research examines and follows up on re-return immigrants resettlement and reintegration trajectories. The scarcity of research on re-return immigrants can be attributed, in part, to a prevailing assumption that their prior familiarity with the host society ensures a smooth process of resettlement and reintegration. Consequently, their experiences remain inadequately examined. Within Canada, there is a recent influx of Hong Kong immigrants. According to the Canadian 2021 Census, more than 210,000 Hong Kong immigrants are residing in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2023). Among these Hong Kong immigrants, re-return immigrants in Canada face unique challenges in resettlement and reintegration. In the Canadian context, funding guidelines for settlement services set by the federal government may limit the availability of programming geared towards return immigrants, as the continuum of services is designed primarily to address the needs of newly arrived immigrants (House of Commons, 2003). Settlement services are not provided once immigrants achieve naturalisation, and even competitive programs pertaining to internship and workplace mentoring opportunities restrict their eligibility to newcomers who have arrived within five years or less (Canadian House of Commons, 2019; MOSAIC, 2023). Re-return immigrants in Canada are, therefore, generally denied access to necessary integration and settlement services, leaving them more vulnerable to adaptation barriers. In light of this, the paper asks: 1) Do Hong Kong re-return immigrants and Hong Kong migrants share similar experiences of (re)settlement and (re)integration in Canada? 2) How do Hong Kong re-return immigrants navigate and evaluate their resettlement and reintegration? In 2022, the UBC School of Social Work conducted a survey study on Hong Kong re-return immigrants and migrants in Canada. The study surveyed Canadian passport holders (N = 107) who returned from Hong Kong to Canada and Work permit migrants (N = 251) across various settlement domains such as health, housing, employment, community, and family. Participants were asked about the primary stressors within these domains. From descriptive statistics, this paper reveals that Canadian passport holders identified challenges related to healthcare accessibility, education of children, and family responsibilities (e.g., childcare) as significant settlement stressors. This discrepancy is further reflected in their higher average age, implying an increased likelihood of medical needs and family structures with dependent children. However, Canadian passport holders demonstrated advantages with familiarity with the Canadian setting. They reported less stress in employment, housing settlements and language barriers in contrast to Work permit migrants. Surprisingly, Canadian passport holders exhibit similar stressors on adaptation to Canadian society (26%) and loneliness (17%) to Work permit migrants (23% and 17%, respectively). Meanwhile, more Canadian passport holders (60%) reported having immediate family members and new friends (96%) in Canada than the latter group (23% and 92%, respectively). Despite their access and quantity of local social ties, Canadian passport holders conveyed similar concerns regarding social integration. These results contradict the claim that prior familiarity with the host society secures smooth integration, suggesting a need for further qualitative research to contextualise their integration experiences. Future research on re-return immigrants is also recommended to incorporate intersectionality into analysis, considering factors such as sex and class. This study explores re-return immigrants’ experiences, challenges and trajectories of resettling and reintegrating to their host country. The quantitative findings reveal that barriers to social integration are not exclusive to newcomers but are also relevant to re-return immigrants. This paper aims to offer insights for policymakers regarding integration and settlement services to support their return to home.

Non-presenting author: Miu Chung Yan, University of British Columbia

This paper will be presented at the following session: