(Policy Address 2023) Hong Kong to implement Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, relax visa requirements

John Lee said on Wednesday that in order to retain and trawl for talents, the SAR government will implement the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, and expand the coverage of universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme. Visa requirements will also be relaxed starting today.

Under the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, eligible investors who make investments of HK$30 million or above in assets such as stocks, funds, bonds can apply for entry into Hong Kong. Such assets do not include investment in real estate.

Sources said details of the scheme will be announced by the end of this year.

Meanwhile, starting today, Hong Kong will relax the visa policy in respect of employment for Vietnamese talents. Visa policy will also be relaxed for Vietnamese applying for "multiple-entry visas" for business and travel. In addition, the government will relax the visa policy for Laotian and Nepalese talents for employment, training and study in University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded institutions.

The government will also establish the physical office of the Hong Kong Talent Engage - an office to be established by the end of this month to provide support for incoming talents and follow up with their development and needs after arrival.

Separately, the government will expand the coverage of universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme. To expand the network for attracting global talents, authorities will add eight top-notch institutions from the Mainland and overseas to the list of eligible universities under the scheme, making a total of 184 institutions, coming into effect in November.