A spokesperson from China's Foreign Ministry denounced some media reports that suggested international talented people are increasingly hesitant to work and live in Hong Kong, adding that those reports are untenable and irresponsible.
The spokesperson reiterated that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region continues to be an international talent hub.
Recently, a couple of foreign media outlets have reported that talented people are hesitant to work and live in Hong Kong, and claimed there could be an exodus of talented people from the city.
The remarks are baseless, disregarding the fact that Hong Kong continues to be a hub attracting international talent, and it is highly irresponsible to deprecate the city's freedom and human rights conditions, Wang Wenbin, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said in Beijing on Monday.
Hong Kong's strong appeal to international talent is on the rise. According to official statistics, from mid-2022 to mid-2023, the net population inflow into Hong Kong was 174,000, debunking the claim of the so-called "talent exodus," Wang said.
From January to November 2023, the HKSAR government received more than 200,000 applications through various talent attraction programs, of which over 120,000 have been approved, exceeding the 80,000 people who quit jobs during the period - with the difference bigger than the city's annual plan of attracting at least 35,000 skilled workers.
Wang highlighted that in the 2023 World Talent Report, published by the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland, Hong Kong ranked second in talent competitiveness in the Asia-Pacific region. Official data and facts clearly indicate that Hong Kong continues to be highly valued by international talented people, he said.
Wang expressed confidence that under the framework of One Country, Two Systems and with the firm support from the central government, Hong Kong's unique advantages in connecting with the world will only strengthen. The positive momentum in economic and social development of Hong Kong will continue to build up, enhancing its global appeal to talented people.
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