Immigration History from Hong Kong (SAR) to Victoria
Hong Kong was the point of departure for thousands of Chinese during the Victorian gold rushes of the 1850s, and many people from Hong Kong also joined the departing ships. By 1871, 63 people born in Hong Kong were recorded in Victoria – only one of whom was female. Few settled in Victoria permanently, and within ten years the community had fallen to 20.
The 1901 White Australia Policy significantly hindered the entry of non-Europeans into Australia, including those born in Hong Kong of Chinese descent. Residency conditions were also strictly controlled. By 1911, the number of Hong Kong-born Victorians had increased to 79 people, most probably of British descent. The Hong Kong-born community in Victoria continued to rise slowly during the first half of the 20th century.
In the 1960s increasing numbers of Hong Kong immigrants settled in Victoria, and by 1966, 1,024 Victorians were of Hong Kong birth. Ten years later, after the White Australia Policy had been officially abandoned, the population had grown to 2,099, with many more of Chinese descent. The growth continued through the ensuing decades. Many came to Australia as students and stayed; others came as skilled and business migrants attracted by the open spaces and quality of life.
Uncertainty about Hong Kong’s economic and political future leading up to the transfer of Hong Kong from British administration to the People’s Republic of China in 1997 also promoted many Hong Kong-born people to immigrate. By 2016, the Hong Kong-born community of Victoria had grown to 21,638.
Today Melbourne is the second-most popular Australian destination city for the Hong Kong-born community. The majority of the community is Cantonese speaking, ethnic Chinese. A third of the community is Christian; 6% is Buddhist. Half of those working occupy professional roles; many others work in trade, clerical, sales and service roles. The community is focussed in the local government areas of Manningham, Monash and Bundoora.
Immigration History from Hong Kong (SAR) (Cantonese) to Victoria
維多利亞 (維省) 淘金熱在1850 年代發生，期間，數以千計的中國人取道香港，乘 船前往該處淘金，很多土生土長的香港人也加入這行列。到了1871 年，維省紀錄 得63 名香港出生的居民。不過，他們很少選擇在維省永久居留。之後十年，這個 香港社群的人數，下滑到只有20 人。
澳洲在1901 年起推行白澳政策，當時，非歐洲裔的人士想要進入澳洲，是一件十 分困難的事，這包括在香港出生的中國人士在內，移居的條件也受到嚴格規定。到 了1911 年，在香港出生移居至維省的人數，上升至79 人，不過當中絕大多數是 英裔香港人。在二十世紀上旬，香港出生的維省市民人數持續慢慢攀升。
到了1960 年代，越來越多的香港人選擇在維省定居。在1966 年，有1,024 個維 省市民的出生地是香港。十年後，澳洲政府正式放棄了白澳政策，香港出生的維省 市民人數，已經上升至2,099 人，另外，還有很多中國裔移民，是從香港以外地 方前來的。打從此時起往後這幾十年裡面，這個增長趨勢持續。他們很多以學生身 份前來，然後留下來，其餘大多是技術或商業移民，他們被澳洲這片遼闊的土地及 高生活水平吸引而來。
一九九七年，英國把管治香港的主權，移交予中華人民共和國。然而，香港的經濟 及政治前景，並未因這個主權移交的日子日益接近而趨向明朗，這促使不少香港出 生的人士移居海外。到了2011 年，香港出生的維省市民人數，已增至1 萬18,205. 人。
今天，墨爾本成為澳洲第二個最受香港出生人士歡迎定居的城市。他們日常以廣東話溝通。廣東話是中國一種方言。他們當中有三分之一是天主教徒及基督徒、百分 之六是佛教徒。這些香港移民的工作人口中，有一半是專業人士，其餘以從事貿易、文員、推銷及服務等行業為主。這個社群活躍於Manningham、Monash，及Bundoora 市政府所管轄的地區。
