SLW hosts seminar to review achievements in talent and manpower-related work (with photos)
14.7.2023

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, today (July 14) hosted a seminar with local major chambers and the human resource management sector to review the implementation progress of relevant work in the first year of the current-term Government, and exchange views regarding such work in future. Apart from actively nurturing and retaining local talent, the Government proactively trawls for talent to create a strong impetus for Hong Kong's growth. A series of talent attraction measures announced in the Policy Address last year have been implemented since December 28, 2022. They include introducing the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) targeting talent with high income and academic qualifications as well as enhancing existing talent admission schemes. The Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) online platform ( www.hkengage.gov.hk ) was also launched at end-2022 to provide one-stop information and support services for incoming talent. The talent-related initiatives have received a positive response since implementation. As of June 30, 2023, the various talent admission schemes received over 100 000 applications in total, and the Immigration Department approved some 61 000. Among them, the TTPS received an overwhelming response. Over 36 000 applications were received and about 26 000 were approved. The positive response affirmed that Hong Kong is an attractive place to live and work for outside talent. In addition, the Talent List which reflects the latest shortage of professional and technical talent in different fields was promulgated on May 16, 2023, with the coverage expanded from 13 professions to 51. The List is now applied to the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the General Employment Policy and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals to provide immigration facilitation, with a view to attracting more high-quality talent to meet Hong Kong's development needs. The Government is confident in achieving the target this year, i.e. admitting at least 35 000 outside talents annually with an intended duration of stay of at least 12 months as set out in the Policy Address. The Government will closely monitor the implementation of the enhanced talent admission schemes and make timely adjustments where necessary. At the same time, the Government will work closely with different sectors to make optimal use of different schemes to attract talent with a view to maintaining Hong Kong's competitiveness. Looking forward, the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) is making preparations for setting up the physical office of the HKTE to undertake the frontline work of attracting and supporting talent. On the manpower side, the LWB launched the Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes on June 19, 2023. Relevant bureaux will roll out specific labour importation schemes for the construction and transport sectors within this month. The Government is also conducting a new round of manpower projection. Main findings are expected to be ready in the third quarter of 2024, which will be very useful in the Government's future work in manpower planning. Participants of the seminar today included representatives from the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the Chinese Manufacturers' Association of Hong Kong, the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, the Hong Kong Chinese Importers' and Exporters' Association, the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management and the HKTE's collaborators.