Several talent recruitment schemes in Hong Kong will require applicants to declare criminal convictions as authorities have tightened rules for such programmes after officials revoked the visa of a controversial mainland Chinese scientist who had served a prison sentence and applied to work in the city.

People who want to relocate to the city through five major admission schemes from Monday must indicate in their application if they have a criminal record, the Immigration Department said.

The schemes are the General Employment Policy, Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, Technology Talent Admission Scheme, Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates and Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents.