There has been a surge in interest in Australian properties, with both wealthy elites and professionals preparing to emigrate from Hong Kong amid the ongoing unrest and political crisis, according to a report from ABC in Australia (22 October 2019). Georg Chmiel, chairman of Juwai, the biggest property website in the world for Chinese buyers, said has seen the same trend, with interest in both high-end properties and the mass market. "We have seen quite a notable increase in enquiries for Australian properties – up by 50 per cent since the protests have started," he said. Mr Chmiel said the ongoing political unrest was hurting confidence in Hong Kong.