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My Hong Kong | Does Hong Kong need expats back? Absolutely – foreign talent enhances our competitiveness, and diversity makes our city better
- The government’s efforts to attract back expatriates under various talent schemes after so many left the city have not been very effective
- We need to understand the fundamental reasons behind the slow return and address them to help maintain our status as an international city
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Foreign business chambers in Hong Kong recently expressed concern over the city’s slow progress in replenishing its expatriate population. They argue that overseas talent is crucial for maintaining the city’s international status.
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Despite the government’s efforts to attract back expatriates, many of whom left during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of returnees has been less than ideal.
Official figures revealed that from January to July, the number of foreigners who arrived from Britain, the US and Australia was only a fifth of the number recorded during the same period in 2018.
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Meanwhile, mainland Chinese accounted for more than 90 per cent of all approved applicants under various talent schemes over the first seven months of 2023.
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