Flexibility race in tech staff hunt

The SAR administration is looking into flexible arrangements for efforts by designated technology corporations to employ non-locals to ensure their production lines are set up as soon as possible, Secretary for Innovation and Technology Sun Dong said.

Sun's hint of flexibility came after Chief Executive John Lee said in his policy address on Wednesday a new HK$10 billion new industrialization acceleration scheme would be set up to provide financial assistance for enterprises in life and health technologies, AI and data science, advanced manufacturing, and new energy technologies.

Under the scheme, an enterprise can receive no more than HK$200 million in funding for production facilities and may have more flexibility in non-local hiring.

Sun said yesterday technical personnel would usually be allowed to work here through the Top Talent Pass or Technology Talent Admission schemes.

"But if personnel cannot meet their requirements, an enterprise will be allowed to import a certain number of technical personnel under the new scheme to get a production line up as soon as possible."

He added limitations might also be relaxed on the number of subsidized research talents that can be employed under the Research Talent Hub funding program.

In terms of the AI supercomputing center eyed for Cyberport, Sun said the plan is for the government to fund construction in the hope Cyberport could be self-sufficient.

It would closely communicate with Cyberport on enhancing cyber security.