HK population drops to record low as people flee Covid curbs

The city saw a decline of 121,500 residents in the year ended June 30. - AP

HONG KONG (Bloomberg): Hong Kong’s population dropped by a record as people fled strict Covid-19 restrictions that have hobbled the city as most other regions move on from the pandemic.

The city saw a decline of 121,500 residents in the year ended June 30, leaving the population at about 7.29 million, according to government data released Thursday (Aug 11). That means the population fell 1.6%, marking the third straight year of declines and the biggest drop in at least six decades. A wide-reaching national security law may have also been a contributing factor.