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As a multinational country, Malaysia shares several similarities with the vibrant city of Hong Kong, where an increasing number of Malaysian talents are embarking on new journeys.
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Access to opportunities in the Greater Bay Area
To revitalize the workforce, Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) has been actively promoting the city’s development opportunities over the past year, aiming to attract global talents, especially Malaysians who are proficient in Cantonese, English, and Mandarin.
In mid-April, Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Chris Sun Yuk-han, led a promotional event in Malaysia that featured approximately 40 prominent enterprises from the Greater Bay Area, attracting over 4,000 local talents.
For many Malaysians, including Emerson Ong, Hong Kong represents an ideal location for career advancement. After serving as a flight attendant for over 10 years in Penang, Ong decided to explore new market opportunities in Hong Kong rather than follow his peers to neighboring Singapore.
As the Senior Manager of Client Development at New World Development Company Limited, Ong visits the Greater Bay Area at least once or twice a month and frequently travels to East and North China for work. This exposure allows him to experience diverse cultures and opportunities that he couldn’t find in Malaysia or Singapore.
Regarding the city's Top Talent Pass Scheme, Ong remarked that it is ideal for many of his friends, as the city offers numerous development opportunities and is a livable environment for Malaysian talents.
Challenges in adapting to Hong Kong's pace
Having watched many local dramas, Ong's first impression of Hong Kong was both familiar and unfamiliar. Although many Malaysian Chinese speakers know Cantonese, he found language to be one of his biggest challenges since he could only understand it.
He joked that his Cantonese had only improved in the last two years since marrying a Hong Kong wife.
Compared to the laid-back lifestyle in Malaysia, Ong highlighted that adapting to the fast-paced lifestyle in Hong Kong was another challenge. However, Ong noted that he had unconsciously started walking faster, a change his family noticed during visits to Malaysia.
He advised Malaysian talents in the city to maintain an open attitude when interacting with locals, stressing that building connections will help them integrate into the local lifestyle.
Diversified Job opportunities and lifestyles
Another Malaysian talent, Rachel Tay, recalled being invited to an international conference in Hong Kong during high school and was captivated by the city’s charm.
After graduating from the University of Hong Kong, she decided to stay and is now the Deputy Project Director at the Tencent Foundation.
“Pressure and opportunities often coexist,” she remarked, expressing her gratitude for the city's resources and the government’s support for global talents, which enrich her life.
Meanwhile, Sudesh Thevasenabathy, the Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Manulife Asia, who moved to Hong Kong with his wife in 2007, appreciated the abundant career development opportunities in Hong Kong.
With a four-hour flight back to Malaysia, he seldom feels homesick, thanks to the convenient transportation.
He also highlighted the high-quality international education in Hong Kong, which offers children unique growth and learning experiences compared to Malaysia.
(Phoebe Poon)
