share on
The expanded List immediately applies to the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP).
To attract more high-quality talent and meet Hong Kong's development needs, the HKSAR government has announced the expansion of the Talent List, increasing the coverage from 13 to 51 professions.
The nine industry segments covered are:
- business support;
- creative industries, arts and culture, performing arts;
- development and construction;
- environmental technology services;
- financial services;
- healthcare services;
- innovation and technology;
- legal and dispute resolution services; and
- maritime services.
A Government spokesperson said, "The main thrust of our manpower policy is nurturing local talent, complemented by attracting outside talent, with a view to enriching the talent pool of Hong Kong and meeting our social and economic development needs."
The expanded List immediately applies to the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), the General Employment Policy (GEP), and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP).
Under the QMAS, eligible applicants who meet the requirements of respective professions on the List will be awarded 30 bonus points under the General Points Test to stand a much better chance of approval. Employers recruiting talent under the GEP and the ASMTP to fill vacancies falling under the professions on the List are not required to provide proof to substantiate their difficulties in local recruitment when making applications, thus shortening the time for employers to recruit outside talent.
Specific examples of job roles that the SAR is seeking to fill under the expanded Talent List include:
- Digital marketing and branding specialists
- Architectural professionals
- Experienced waste treatment specialists/engineers
- Experienced professionals in fintech
- Occupational therapists
- Experienced artificial intelligence (AI) specialists
- Dispute resolution professionals
- Shipping finance professionals
- Experienced professionals in environmental, social and governance (ESG) - other than finance professionals
- Creative industries professionals in digital entertainment, such as game development experts and game producers
Responding to media inquiries on the expanded Talent List on Tuesday (16 May 2023), the Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun said the government has set the key performance indicator (KPI) on talent to attract at least 35,000 talent, who are expected to stay in Hong Kong for at least 12 months, into the city each year from this year to the next two years through the talent admission schemes.
The updated List, detailed specifications of individual professions and the guidance note for applying under the admission schemes have been uploaded to the dedicated website and the online platform of Hong Kong Talent Engage.
Thank you for reading our story! If you have any feedback, feel free to let us know — take our 2023 Readers' Survey here.
Lead image / Shutterstock
share on
