'Pick talent according to HK needs'

Michael Shum

Hong Kong must know what it needs as it looks to bring in top talent, says lawmaker Wendy Hong Wen.

Hong made the call yesterday as Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki said the admission of top talent can alleviate the city's problem of an aging population.

With the Top Talent Pass Scheme visa approaching the deadline, its first batch of talent will have to decide in the near future whether to stay or leave.

One of them, Zhu Yue from Shanghai, has been in Hong Kong for over six months and has quickly adapted.

"I like Hong Kong and I watched many Cantonese dramas when I was small," Zhu said.

Inspired by medical dramas, Zhu opted to study medicine but was unsuccessful in obtaining a limited local registration with the Hospital Authority.

As such, he is currently studying medical science at the University of Hong Kong.

Despite the expensive cost of living - Zhu is paying HK$18,000 a month for a 150-square-foot flat near the university - he is determined to stay in the city.

"If you like the place from the bottom of your heart, you have the confidence to overcome all the obstacles," he said.

Zhao Yanan, also from Shanghai, has been here for more than a year, and considers the Top Talent Pass Scheme visa as just a tourist visa.

"After giving you an identity card, they really don't care about you anymore," Zhao said.

Zhao said she has been getting HK Talent Engage e-mails every month but they are "quite useless."

Zhao said she has been looking for employment in advertising. "The wages here are just too low, compared to the mainland. How are you going to keep the talent with so little money?" she said.

Hong, an Election Committee sector lawmaker, said the government should concentrate on attracting talent from professions the city desperately needs.

"For example, the best engineering schools are not included in the Top Talent Pass Scheme as it only considers the overall rankings of the university," Hong said.

"We have to be more focused. We need to identify which talent the city needs and where we can find the most appropriate ones so as to attract them to Hong Kong. Adjustments are definitely needed in the next phase."

Chan said the median age of the top talent coming to Hong Kong is 35 and their arrivals can keep the city's population from aging.

He said the overall median age of Hongkongers currently stands at 48.5.

The chief secretary said the children accompanying the top talent will also enhance the city's labor force in the long term. Some 90 percent of these children are under 14, he added.

"Approximately 63,000 talent have come to the city via the scheme, bringing over 70,000 dependents," Chan said.

"Their dependents can also enrich the talent pool, injecting new vitality to the economy and bring a positive impact to the labor force."

michael.shum@singtaonewscorp.com