The annual mass exodus from the French capital sees the city's inhabitants while away the August heat in the countryside.

mass exodus：人口迁徙；大批的离去；大逃窜

But this week many of the biggest earners across the Channel have been mulling a départ which could be rather more permanent.

The toppling of Nicolas Sarkozy by François Hollande, the first socialist president to lead the country in 17 years, has sent ripples of fear through the wealthier arrondissements of Paris.

Their new president may block the eurozone austerity advocated by Germany's Angela Merkel, but he is not opposed to his richer citizens feeling the squeeze.

Nicolas Sarkozy ：尼古拉·萨科齐；2007年5月起担任法兰西第五共和国总统；2012年法国总统选举中败给弗朗索瓦·奥朗德

François Hollande ：弗朗索瓦·奥朗德；2012年5月6日第二轮选举中，奥朗德击败萨科齐，当选法国新一任总统。

Mr Hollande plans to implement a 75pc tax rate on earnings over €1m (£800m), on top of a 45pc rate for people making €150,000 or more. He is also expected to raise "wealth taxes" on property assets and end his predecessor's tax incentives to lure bankers back home.

In addition, France's high earners feel increasingly unwelcome in a country now led by a man who has admitted: "I don't like the rich." So where are they looking? London. It comes as no surprise – while Hollande prepares to raise taxes, over here David Cameron is cutting the 50pc tax rate for income above £150,000 to 45pc.

"I have already worked in London and lived in South Kensington," said one French banker who expects to return to the UK over the next three months. "The question is how much of Hollande's rhetoric will materialise into policy."

materialise into：实现在……

Few are keen to find out. Private equity firms and American banks in Paris have already begun making arrangements for their top executives to set up office in London, amid widespread concern about changes to the French income tax regime.

keen to：热衷于……

set up：设立；建立

High-earners are changing their behaviour so they appear safely based in London before any painful crackdown. "Partners are coming over to establish a track record of behaviour that is outside tax, from an early stage, so that they can respond quickly to what is coming down the track," said a senior source at one private equity firm.

"The exodus will mean a lot of France's biggest earners relocate to London," said a hedge fund manager. "It won't be possible for everyone, but those who can make the switch will definitely be working on a contingency plan."

relocate to: 搬到……

One US bank was organising tax advice for its Paris-based staff, said a source: "Naturally people are concerned, and we are just trying to make sure we address those concerns."

address concerns：解决担忧

The source insisted that it would not mean a wholesale exit from France, but rather that employees would be offered options. However, some staff have already formally asked for transfers, with most plumping for London.

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