‘No loophole’ in Hong Kong talent scheme after forgery claims, officials say
Labour minister Chris Sun says no problem in scheme’s design and assessment procedure, and warns against those who break law
Hong Kong authorities have warned applicants of the city’s top talent scheme not to blindly trust agents to provide the necessary documents, saying assessment for the visa is strict and there are no “loopholes” for anyone to exploit.
Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Monday there were no administrative gaps after agencies in mainland China reportedly claimed they could provide forged documents for individuals wanting to apply for and renew their status under the Top Talent Pass Scheme.
“The Immigration Department strictly gatekeeps every application. Therefore, there is no so-called policy loophole,” Sun said after attending a public event on Monday.
He added there was no problem with the scheme’s design and authorities provided clear information on the eligibility criteria.
Sun said applicants had to apply online and agents could not offer any help, stressing that reporting fake information was a criminal offence.
“If they easily or blindly trust the agents, I worry that they end up with no entry to the city or money … If they contravene the law, they are punishable by the law,” he said.
