(Policy Address 2024) Hong Kong to reform scheme and step up talent search

John Lee said on Wednesday that Hong Kong will continue its trawl for top-tier talent and continue to reform various aspects of the talent admission regime.

The Hong Kong leader pointed out that Hong Kong boasts five of the world's top 100 universities and is an international hub for exchange and collaboration among high-caliber talent.

He said the government implemented a new talent admission regime in late 2022, with more than 380,000 applications having been received to date and around 160,000 talents having arrived in Hong Kong with their families.

Lee said in the next five years, there will be a projected shortage of around 180,000 workers across different sectors. To build a quality talent pool for development, the government will reform various aspects of the talent admission regime.

There will be an update to the Talent List to include talent required for the development of the "eight centres".

The regime is also expanding the list of universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme to 198 universities by adding 13 top mainland and overseas universities and extending the validity period of the first visa of high-income talent under the scheme from two to three years.

They will also enhance the General Employment Policy and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals, providing new channels to attract experienced specialists in specific skilled trades facing acute manpower shortages to come to Hong Kong. There will be a quota under the new arrangement.

The regime will introduce a new mechanism under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, proactively inviting top-notch talent to the city for development, promoting Hong Kong as the focal point of international high-caliber talent.

A two-year extension will also be granted for the pilot arrangement of including graduates from the GBA campuses of Hong Kong universities under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates.