Labor minister reassures strict vetting for talent schemes

Strict oversight has always been maintained in the approval process for various talent schemes, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said in response to concerns about the adequacy of personnel for verification.

His remarks came after former Chief Executive and Vice Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference Leung Chun-ying posted on Facebook that there were 221,000 talent admission scheme applications in 2023 and 208,000 applications last year. He questioned whether the government had enough personnel to verify the numerous talent applications.

Sun responded on Facebook that from the end of 2022 to the end of January this year, over 280,000 talent admission applications were approved, with the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) accounting for one-third of that number. 

“The eligibility criteria for TTPS are clear, the required documents are straightforward, and the Immigration Department has fully digitized the application process, enhancing processing capacity,” he stated.

He also noted to ensure that only qualified talents are approved, all applicants for Category B and C under the TTPS as well as the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme must now submit certified documents regarding their educational qualifications from designated third-party certifying bodies or awarding institutions.

Sun stated that while the initial entry qualifications for the TTPS are simple, talents must be employed in Hong Kong or engaged in business activities to renew their stay. 

He noted that aligning talent with local job market demands takes time and is a normal interactive process, with renewal decisions dependent on individual qualifications and other factors.

“I often say that talent matching is like a romantic relationship. If talents find the environment suitable, they will naturally stay; conversely, if they choose not to remain, ‘breaking up peacefully’ is quite normal,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Immigration Department stated that when processing TTPS renewal applications, it will consider the applicants’ salaries, their economic contributions to Hong Kong, and their duration of stay. 

For individuals with established businesses, the length of the extension will depend on various factors, and shorter stays may be granted to monitor their business situation, it said.

(Cheng Wong)