New heart in talent hunt

An office for Hong Kong Talent Engage opened yesterday, with Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki saying 160,000 applications had been received through various talent admission schemes in the first nine months of this year and that the office would strengthen Hong Kong's status as an international talent hub.

Located in Wan Chai, it is aimed at formulating talent attraction strategies, providing support for incoming talent, and following up on their development and needs after arrival.

Chan said 100,000 applications had been received and 60,000 talents had already arrived, far exceeding the key performance indicator of at least 35,000 every year.

Office director Anthony Lau Chun-hon said it would partner with diversified organizations to provide services to talents, including real estate companies, educational organizations and hotels.

"We will work together to provide different services to encourage and help the talents adapt to Hong Kong society in a short time."

For his part, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said Hong Kong's educational system was one of the city's most appealing attractions with top-notch quality.

"There are many choices for imported talents' children to study in primary and secondary schools, and in fact, apart from the international schools, children are welcome to study in local schools as well."

Sun said the talent list, which currently comprises 51 professions under nine industry segments, would be reviewed and revised when necessary.

"We will increase the number of professions if we lack talents, and may also remove a profession if we have enough."

One of the new arrivals, Icy, who came from the mainland, is working as a finance professional after joining an insurance company in 2017.

She believes working hard in Hong Kong will be rewarding.

Icy said language was the first difficulty she encountered on arrival, but her colleagues were friendly and communicated with her in Putonghua, and there were many activities in the community that she could take part in, allowing her to integrate very quickly.

Thomas, from France, said Hong Kong made him feel comfortable compared to other cities, citing its natural and hilly environment and wonderful social life as attractions that convinced him to stay on after he had finishing a MBA program at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

On the new office, Icy believed that it would help support incoming talents, while Thomas reminded the talents that they should collect information and make preparations before coming to Hong Kong, so as to better adapt to life here.