Using Bourdieu’s field theory and extending the sexual field framework, we conceptualise intimacy as fields, that is, configurations of social relations underlying the doing of romantic and sexual relationships. Drawing on a comparative analysis of the intimate relationships of middle- and working-class gay men in Hong Kong, we show that intimacy fields were organised by class-based habitus and inequalities in capital. These factors resulted in class-based homophilous relationship ideals, constructed intimacy fields separated by class boundaries, and shaped the different relationship formation strategies, and differential capabilities in maintaining long-term relationships of working- and middle-class gay men. Participants in cross-class relationships faced challenges related to habitus and capital mismatches, developing strategies to reimagine what was normative and desirable. Added together, the present study shows how social class and intimacy are mutually constituted. On the one hand, class inequalities shape the ideals, formation and maintenance of intimate relationships, and on the other, the doing of intimacy often reproduces class hierarchies and polices class boundaries.

Following mass social protests in 2019 and the enactment of a national security law in 2020 in Hong Kong, a significant proportion of Hong Kong people considered migrating to another country. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic had spread rapidly around the world. This background provides researchers with an excellent opportunity to study the possible impacts of a pandemic on migration decisions and planning. We investigate whether the migration intention and the planned timing of migration of Hong Kong people have changed with the COVID-19 pandemic situations both locally and abroad. We also examine if the impact of the pandemic might have varied with people's age, gender, education, and parental status. Data are from a random-sampled survey (N=2,492) conducted in 2021-2022, which collected socio-demographic information and migration intention and planning of Hong Kong people with a British National (Overseas) status. We find that a more severe COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong is positively associated with one's migration intention. The migration intention of younger and more educated people is more strongly associated with the COVID-19 situation in Hong Kong. However, the COVID-19 situation in the UK is not significantly associated with one's migration intention. Among people who intend to emigrate, a more severe local COVID-19 situation is positively associated with uncertainty about the timing of migration. We conclude by highlighting the significance of global pandemics in shaping migration decisions.

We adopt and extend Hirschman’s (1970) Exit, Voice, and Loyalty framework to investigate the associations between local identities, participation in social movements, and migration intention in Hong Kong. Data are from random sampled surveys collected from February to April 2021, June to August 2021, and March to June 2022 ( N = 3,003) from people in Hong Kong with the British National (Overseas) status. The findings show that the Hong Konger identity is associated with a higher level of participation in social movements and a stronger migration intention. There are few variations in these associations across the generations. Furthermore, participation in social movements is a strong push factor to migration, and no generational difference in the association is found. Overall, the findings imply that when political freedom is in decline, as in the case of Hong Kong, a local identity is associated with voicing for reforms. In the case of failed social movements, a local identity and previous experiences in voicing out are associated with a higher chance of exit to another country.