36,000 move to HK under Top Talent Pass Scheme

About 36,000 talents have arrived in Hong Kong through the Top Talent Pass Scheme, making up approximately 70 percent of the total 51,000 approved applications, according to Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han.

While more than 90 percent of applicants are from mainland China, Sun said a significant number of talents are coming from non-mainland countries or regions.

Sun said the talents moving to Hong Kong possess an international perspective. About 60 percent of them have graduated from top mainland universities, while 40 percent have graduated from well-known universities in Europe or the US.

As of last month, approximately 51,000 dependents or applications for the Top Talent Pass Scheme have been approved. Out of these, about 36,000 dependents have relocated to Hong Kong, with nearly 21,000 of them being minors. They have the option to attend private schools or publicly funded schools.

According to the Education Bureau, Hong Kong currently has sufficient primary and secondary school places to accommodate the influx.

The government is conducting follow-up surveys on the approved talents to gain insights into their circumstances and plans for settling in Hong Kong. The results of the analysis will be available in the near future.

Tony Tse Wai-chuen, a lawmaker specializing in architecture, surveying, urban planning, and landscape spheres, said a significant proportion of talents coming to Hong Kong are from mainland China. However, he believes that Hong Kong also needs talents from other places.

Lawmaker Wendy Hong Wen expressed concerns about talents being unable to find employment or start businesses in Hong Kong due to various reasons. This has led to the emergence of "illegal agencies" in the market that engage in fraudulent practices to obtain visa renewals through forged employment or start-up certificates.

She suggested that authorities provide channels for talent to renew their visas through investment, such as with a minimum amount of HK$10 million.

Aron Kwok Wai-keung, another lawmaker, criticized the loose threshold of the Top Talent Pass Scheme policy, expressing worries that it may hinder local employment and promotion opportunities.

He said the purpose of the high talent program is to supplement talent in Hong Kong, and individuals should have a job or start a business in the city.

Sun responded "Investment in exchange for visa renewal is not currently being considered. The authorities will work hard to clarify and review so that illegal intermediaries cannot fish in troubled waters."

He said, "The unemployment rate in Hong Kong is very low, only 2.9 percent, which indicates that there are huge vacancies in the labor market."