Nearly 85,000 applications approved under Top Talent Pass Scheme as of end of October, 2024
Today (Dec. 4), Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han stated that as of the end of October this year, nearly 85,000 applications had been approved under the Top Talent Pass Scheme.
LegCo member Tan Yueheng raised a written inquiry, noting that some opinions suggest that the only entry criterion for Category A applications is having an annual income of HK$2.5 million or more in the year preceding the application. However, top talent should not be equated solely with high-income individuals. He asked whether the government would consider raising the threshold for Category A applications and increasing selection criteria to enhance the evaluation of such talent.
Sun responded that most Category A applicants approved to come to Hong Kong are entrepreneurs or company executives, who have achieved certain success in their professional fields and possess considerable competitiveness in the market.
According to earlier follow-up survey results on talents brought in under the Scheme, nearly 60% of Category A respondents who have been in Hong Kong for six months or more are employed, which is higher than the percentages for Category B and Category C. About a quarter of employed Category A respondents are entrepreneurs who have started companies in Hong Kong, creating job opportunities for locals.
The employed Category A talents are mainly engaged in industries where Hong Kong has advantages, including commerce and trade, innovation and technology, as well as information and communication technology, helping to fill local job vacancies and strengthen the local talent pool.
Sun pointed out that individuals approved to come to Hong Kong under the Scheme must be employed or have established/participated in a business in Hong Kong by the time their initial visa expires to be eligible for renewal. Whether these talents can stay in Hong Kong long-term depends on their own qualifications and competitiveness, as well as their ability to find development opportunities in the local market.
He emphasized that the Hong Kong SAR government has no intention of changing the application criteria for Category A under the Scheme or imposing additional restrictions.
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