HK to attract talent with new immigration policies   

香港入境政策将放宽、优化和推新求“才”

(ECNS) - Hong Kong will liberalize its immigration regime and introduce new employment policies to attract more talented professionals, says Eric Chan Kwok-ki, director of the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

In order to cast a wider net for talents from abroad, the Immigration Department has endorsed 31,676 applications from individuals and entrepreneurs under the General Employment Policy. It also granted 9,313 expert certifications to people from the Chinese mainland, as part of the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals in 2014.

In addition, the committee has issued 10,375 work visas for non-local graduates who have obtained degrees or higher qualifications in Hong Kong under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates, and handled 373 applications from those wishing to stay in the HKSAR under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme.

The committee has also suspended the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme since January 15, as the current priority for Hong Kong's immigration policy is to attract more talented, rather than wealthy, individuals in light of the city's aging population.

In the meantime, the committee will also launch a new Admission Scheme to allow more second generation Chinese Hong Kong residents to work and live in the city without having to secure an offer of employment first. They may also bring their spouses and dependent children under the age of 18.

The committee said it will continue to optimize its Quality Migrant Admission through the General Points Test Scheme to attract highly skilled and talented professionals.