Insurance policy for Hong Kong visa? Why top talent from mainland opt to become agents

Aims of talent trawl questioned as arrivals grab insurance sales jobs to stay in city, but some say move reflects ‘reality’ of current economy

Reading Time:7 minutes

Published: 7:30am, 25 Oct 2024

Why are so many people who came to Hong Kong via a scheme to attract global talent selling insurance? In the second of a three-part series, Kahon Chan explores how the still-thriving insurance sector has become a safety net for those hoping to renew their visas to remain in the city. Read part one here.

Mainland Chinese professionals have been going online since the start of the year to talk about ways to remain in Hong Kong’s top talent scheme even without having jobs of their choice.

On Xiaohongshu, the popular Instagram-like social media platform, some said it was easy to apply for the city’s Top Talent Pass Scheme, but hard to find jobs that matched their qualifications or experience.

Many ended up becoming licensed insurance agents. With the sector doing well in the city compared with other parts of the economy, some found the job paid well enough.

Those in the online discussion agreed that selling insurance was the easiest way to remain in the city, as the earliest applicants under the scheme had to renew their visas.

Critics have already begun asking whether city leader John Lee Ka-chiu meant to attract insurance salespeople when he launched the scheme to lure graduates of top universities, high-flyers and professionals.

Introduced in December 2022, it offered successful applicants a two-year visa which could be extended if they found jobs or set up a business in the city.

SCMP Series

Hong Kong talent drive

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