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Lars Hamer

The Hong Kong government has over five years approved 361 applicants to work in the city under three talent admission schemes with an expanded list of professions covered.
Statistics released on Wednesday by the Labour and Welfare Bureau show that from 2018 to May 2023, there were 364 applications through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP), with 99 per cent accepted.
The department provided the figures in response to a question by lawmaker Chan Pui-leung on the approval status of the programmes after authorities last month expanded the number of professions covered from 13 to 51.
Why are mainland Chinese professionals dominating Hong Kong’s talent hunt?
Hong Kong has a total of seven talent schemes, with the latest introduced by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu last December. Called the Top Talent Pass Scheme, it is aimed at plugging a shortfall of at least 140,000 people who have left Hong Kong’s workforce.
All schemes, with streamlined work visa processes, enable companies to hire foreign and mainland Chinese professionals without proving that they cannot fill the positions with local recruits.
Among the three schemes raised by the department on Wednesday, ASMTP applicants – meaning those from the mainland – made up 90 per cent of entries. Foreign applicants in the other two schemes comprised those from the United States, which had 10 candidates; Australia, with four; Canada, with three and 19 classified as “others”.

Armstrong Lee Hon-cheung, managing director of executive search firm Worldwide Consulting Group, said language was one reason mainlanders were dominating the schemes.
“Mandarin skills are an obvious advantage for many jobs in Hong Kong and some industries [covered by the schemes] require knowledge of Chinese markets,” he said.
The Covid-19 pandemic might also have affected the overall number of applicants, he suggested.
“The government can also do more to appeal to talent from outside the mainland, like offering subsidies for accommodation,” he said.
Of the 256 approved applicants to the QMAS, nearly half or 121 people, had a master’s degree or at least two bachelor’s degrees, while 29 per cent held a doctorate or at least two master’s degrees. More than 55 per cent of applicants also had at least five years of graduate or specialist level work experience.
Despite being open to 51 different professions, the applications across the three schemes only cover 14 sectors, the most popular being asset management and professionals in wealth management, accounting for 76 applicants or 21 per cent of the total of 361.
3 in 4 Hong Kong companies struggling with talent shortage, chamber survey finds
Fintech, involving the use of computer programs and other technology to support banking and financial services, was the second most popular profession, accounting for 19 per cent.
Another 65 people, or 18 per cent of the total, were innovation and technology experts.
Lawmaker Chan queried last month’s expansion of the number of professions covered.
“One month has passed since the expansion of the talent list, but there has only been one applicant for the newly added sectors. I hope that the government will do more to attract high-quality talent to Hong Kong.”
Nearly two-thirds or 235 new professionals approved to enter for work were aged between 18 and 39.
There was one arts promoter who applied for a work visa and obtained approval since the profession was added to the list on May 16.
About three in every four approved applicants across the three schemes were male.


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The expanded talent list covers overseas professionals and highly skilled workers. Photo: Jelly Tse

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Asset management emerges as sector with highest number of approvals
Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals took in bulk of applicants across three programmes


Asset management emerges as sector with highest number of approvals.


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Hong Kong approves more than 360 applicants over 5 years in talent schemes with expanded list of professions

Asset management emerges as sector with highest number of approvals Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals took in bulk of applicants across three programmes

Asset management emerges as sector with highest number of approvals

Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals took in bulk of applicants across three programmes