Core Historical Revisit 

In the 2000s, China’s WTO entry in 2001 and rapid rise reshaped global trade; Hong Kong benefited through closer economic integration agreements such as CEPA.
The 2003 SARS outbreak hit Hong Kong hard, revealing vulnerabilities but also strengthening public-health systems. The global financial crisis of 2008 shook Western economies, while Hong Kong’s banking sector proved resilient, enhancing its financial-centre image. Europe and the UK faced austerity and slower growth, making emigration less purely economic. Many Hong Kong people saw China-linked opportunities at home, though some continued to emigrate for education, diversification of assets, and long-term security.