Talent scheme arrivals already exceed year's target

Over 38,000 elites have entered Hong Kong through the administration's talent schemes in the first seven months this year, exceeding authorities' original goal of 35,000 talents a year, said Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han.

Sun told a mainland newspaper on Wednesday that the administration has received around 120,000 applications on various talent schemes, and over 75,000 cases have been approved.

The SAR introduced a series of talent attracting measures last December and about 40,000 applications had been received through the Top Talent Pass Scheme by July 31, of which more than 30,000 were approved, Sun said.

Of another 40,000 applications received through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme after suspending its annual quota for two years from January 1, 10,000 were approved, the highest number of applications being approved since the scheme had launched in 2006.

"We will closely monitor the implementation of various talent attraction measures, and review and adjust them to ensure that we stand out in the fierce international competition for attracting talents, and help foreign talents to better integrate into Hong Kong's economic development," Sun added.

He also believes that Hong Kong is an attractive option for talents, as it is one of the most competitive economies in the world that can provide huge development opportunities.

However, Sun said that while the administration is actively attracting talents, it has not relaxed immigration control.

He said the Immigration Department has a well-established mechanism to exercise stringent control in vetting and approving applications for visas or extension of stay, so as to ensure that only eligible persons are allowed to work in the city.

"Talents coming to Hong Kong under the talent schemes are normally allowed to stay for two or three years on first entry," Sun said, and an applicant must have been offered employment or started or participated in a business to apply for an extension of stay.

He added that the department will conduct spot checks, including on-site inspections of a company's operation mode, financial status and staff verification, to establish the information declared by the applicant.

The department will further investigate any suspected fraudulent employment relationship in applying for visas or entry permits, or if there are doubts about the documents, it will take enforcement action with sufficient evidence.

Any person who obtains an entry permit to work in Hong Kong by unlawful means will have the entry permit revoked in accordance with the law, and will be subject to criminal liabilities and repatriated to their home country, he added.

According to the Immigration Ordinance, people who make false representations to an immigration officer shall be liable on conviction to a maximum fine of HK$150,000 and imprisonment for 14 years.