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Sammy Heung

A former NBA star who has settled in Hong Kong under a talent scheme has described the city as “a slam dunk of new opportunities without language barriers” in a new government video series to promote official recruitment drives.
The Hong Kong Talent Engage Office released the clip featuring two-time NBA All-Star Stephon Marbury, an American who has spent years in Beijing, on Wednesday as part of efforts to attract talent from mainland China and overseas.
An office spokesman said the series showcased the “city’s vibrant and colourful” lifestyle and featured people from “different professions and backgrounds from around the world to share their reasons why they came to Hong Kong”.
Marbury said in the first video: “I’m here because Hong Kong is an international melting pot. It’s a slam dunk of new opportunities without language barriers.”
He also lauded the culinary offerings, saying the first Cantonese word he learned was “delicious”.
“The food here is fantastic. My first Cantonese word? Hou mei,” he said.
The 30-second clip finishes with Marbury doing a heart gesture with his hands alongside the eight other people to be featured in later videos, saying: “Can’t wait to see you here.”
Marbury last year said had applied for the Top Talent Pass Scheme, launched in December 2022, through the income pathway.
The scheme is designed for individuals who have earned more than HK$2.5 million (US$320,100) over the past 12 months and graduates from 176 listed universities who have accumulated three years of working experience within the past five years.
The government had received more than 72,000 applications under the scheme since its launch and approved nearly 59,000 of them as of the end of February this year, according to official statistics.
About 44,000 of the applicants had already relocated to Hong Kong, part of a total 108,000 people who had arrived in the city under various talent initiatives since last year.
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in February the Top Talent scheme was estimated to add HK$34 billion to the city’s HK$2.84 trillion economy.


In a social media post last November, Marbury said his application was approved “in a record-breaking 24 hours”, adding that he was “amazed” by the “efficient support” provided by the government.
“Hong Kong will be my third home, in addition to my second home in Beijing,” he said.
Since 2009, the 46-year-old former NBA star has made many trips to Hong Kong and shared his plans of visiting the city frequently to carry out his duties as an ambassador for the InspiringHK Sports Foundation, a charity helping young people develop through sports.
Marbury played for the New York Knicks after being picked by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1996 NBA Draft. He became a two-time All-Star and All-NBA team member.
Following his departure from the United States’ National Basketball Association in 2009, he began a new chapter of his career by signing with the Beijing Ducks in the Chinese Basketball Association.
Before his retirement, he competed in China from 2010 to 2018. He is currently the head coach of the Beijing Royal Fighters.
The talent office said the videos would be spread in Hong Kong and on the mainland, as well as overseas through its Economic and Trade Offices.
It said Hong Kong’s strengths, such as its positioning as an international centre for finance, shipping, and innovation and technology, would be on full display in the videos.
The clips would also feature Hong Kong’s role as a regional intellectual property trading centre and a core city of the Greater Bay Area.


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A screengrab from the new promotional video featuring former NBA star Stephon Marbury. Photo: Handout

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News

Hong Kong

Society

Stephon Marbury, who has settled in city under talent scheme, stars in first clip of series aimed at luring professionals to Hong Kong


Stephon Marbury, who has settled in city under talent scheme, stars in first clip of series aimed at luring professionals to Hong Kong.


Hong Kong economy

CBA (Chinese Basketball Association)