Ho Kai-ming: Top Talent Pass Scheme receives positive response, not be terminated

Ho Kai-ming, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, stated today (July 16) at a Legislative Council committee meeting that various talent pass schemes have received over 320,000 applications since the end of June. Approximately 200,000 have been approved, and over 130,000 individuals have arrived in Hong Kong through these schemes, surpassing the department's goal of introducing 105,000 people within three years.

Lawrence Tang from the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers expressed concern that, according to departmental data, only 54% of those admitted through the Top Talent Pass Scheme have successfully found employment in Hong Kong. He also inquired about the countries or regions from which the talent originates.

Election Committee member Wendy Hong suggested that the next step for the Top Talent Pass Scheme should focus on maintaining quantity while improving quality and questioned whether there should be restrictions on the age and industry of the incoming talent.

In response, Ho emphasized that the "Top Talent Pass Scheme" has received a positive response and will not be terminated, so applicants do not need to rush their applications. He also mentioned that the scheme allows applicants to seek employment in Hong Kong within two years of arrival. Currently, the age of incoming talent is mainly between 30 and 40 years, which he believes helps to slow down the aging population in Hong Kong.

Ho warned that imposing too many conditions on applicants would complicate the application process.

According to the department, among the various applications, the ratio of mainland to overseas university graduates is about 6 to 4, with overseas applicants primarily coming from the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and so on.