Hong Kong News
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Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025
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5,700 approved top talents raring to go
Authorities have approved over 5,700 applications for the new Top Talent Pass Scheme - and 90 percent of them are starting their career in the SAR in six months, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said.
Sun said his bureau has so far received over 7,200 applications since the scheme launched on December 28.
"The response has far exceeded our expectations," he said "This means Hong Kong is hugely attractive to overseas talents. They are willing to work in the city as long as we provide them with an opportunity."
The two-year scheme is open to applications from people who earn over HK$2.5 million annually and those who graduated from the world's top 100 universities with at least three years of work experience over the previous five years.
However, those who the lack three years of work experience but have graduated from top universities within the past five years could still apply for the scheme - subject to an annual quota of 10,000 on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants will not need a work offer when heading to Hong Kong.
Half of the 7,200 applicants are top university graduates with at least three years of working experience, according to Sun, adding that he believed these applicants can ease Hong Kong's brain drain in recent years.
But the number of applicants earning HK$2.5 million annually accounted for the least.
Sun believed reopening borders with the mainland will help Hong Kong's economy revive. It also makes the city a more attractive place for overseas talents to start their careers, he added.
But he reaffirmed that local talents are still the basis for the city's development and encouraged those who have left the city to return.
"People leave the city for various reasons, such as for family concerns and following their company's development," said Sun.
"But some of them are just temporarily out of the city."
He added that the SAR has been striving to provide job and business opportunities and ease the long-existing housing problem in the long term, with the hope of convincing talents to settle down in Hong Kong.
The bureau will finish the review of the government's talent list by the first quarter of this year and may consider adjusting the talent-hungry fields on the list, hoping to find talents for various government projects.
The list was first drawn up in 2018 with a view to attract high-quality overseas professionals to the city.
The list currently comprises 13 fields of talent that Hong Kong most needs - including those in fintech and environmental, social and governance sectors, which were added during its last review in 2021.
"The response has far exceeded our expectations," he said "This means Hong Kong is hugely attractive to overseas talents. They are willing to work in the city as long as we provide them with an opportunity."
The two-year scheme is open to applications from people who earn over HK$2.5 million annually and those who graduated from the world's top 100 universities with at least three years of work experience over the previous five years.
However, those who the lack three years of work experience but have graduated from top universities within the past five years could still apply for the scheme - subject to an annual quota of 10,000 on a first-come, first-served basis. Applicants will not need a work offer when heading to Hong Kong.
Half of the 7,200 applicants are top university graduates with at least three years of working experience, according to Sun, adding that he believed these applicants can ease Hong Kong's brain drain in recent years.
But the number of applicants earning HK$2.5 million annually accounted for the least.
Sun believed reopening borders with the mainland will help Hong Kong's economy revive. It also makes the city a more attractive place for overseas talents to start their careers, he added.
But he reaffirmed that local talents are still the basis for the city's development and encouraged those who have left the city to return.
"People leave the city for various reasons, such as for family concerns and following their company's development," said Sun.
"But some of them are just temporarily out of the city."
He added that the SAR has been striving to provide job and business opportunities and ease the long-existing housing problem in the long term, with the hope of convincing talents to settle down in Hong Kong.
The bureau will finish the review of the government's talent list by the first quarter of this year and may consider adjusting the talent-hungry fields on the list, hoping to find talents for various government projects.
The list was first drawn up in 2018 with a view to attract high-quality overseas professionals to the city.
The list currently comprises 13 fields of talent that Hong Kong most needs - including those in fintech and environmental, social and governance sectors, which were added during its last review in 2021.
