In Depth: Mainlanders Flood Hong Kong Talent Program

The Hong Kong talent recruitment initiative is a strategy aimed at addressing the city's shortage of highly skilled workers and revitalizing its economy. It has gained popularity among mainland Chinese, drawn by job opportunities and social welfare benefits, such as access to better education for their children[para. 1]. However, many successful mainland applicants find the scheme challenging as a pathway to permanent residency due to strict criteria for visa extension, which assesses economic contributions to the city. There is a reported mismatch in job supply for the expertise of visa holders, forcing some to take roles with lower entry barriers like selling insurance[para. 2].

The Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), launched by the Hong Kong government in late 2022, offers a two-year visa to successful applicants to work or start businesses in the city. It is targeted at professionals with rich work experience and good academic qualifications from top 100 global universities[para. 3]. Applicants must qualify under one of three categories: high-income earners, degree holders with substantial work experience, or recent graduates of eligible universities[para. 4].

The TTPS is an essential part of Hong Kong's plan to counteract a shrinking workforce and stimulate economic growth. The labor force saw a reduction of approximately 140,000 people in the two years leading to mid-2022, with around two-thirds being highly skilled workers. Efforts to attract talent align with Hong Kong’s goals to bolster its reputation as a global hub[para. 5][para. 6]. The local labor force had increased to 3.5 million by the end of 2023, indicating a positive impact from the recovery initiatives and the TTPS[para. 7].

In October, the government expanded the scheme, adding 13 new universities to the eligibility list and extending the visa validity for high-income talent from two to three years[para. 8]. By September 2023, around 81,000 applications were approved under the high-income category, with more than 100,000 applications received since the program’s inception. Over 90% of applicants were from the Chinese mainland[para. 10][para. 11]. Approved dependents also benefit from Hong Kong's educational and healthcare systems[para. 12].

One primary attraction for mainland Chinese is relieving their children from the intensely competitive educational environment. Hong Kong provides alternative pathways to prestigious universities with less competition than the gaokao, China’s national college entrance exam[para. 13][para. 14]. Compared to other talent recruitment schemes, the TTPS is favored for its efficiency in processing applications, setting clear thresholds for eligibility without a drawn-out selection process[para. 17][para. 18].

The TTPS features a "relaxed entry, strict renewal" policy designed to allow easy initial access but difficult retention without contribution to the local economy[para. 26]. The requirements for extending visas include stable employment with satisfactory income levels, making it challenging especially for those who maintain jobs on the mainland while taking flexible positions in Hong Kong[para. 27][para. 30]. Applicants are limited to a single application, necessitating careful consideration[para. 34].

Significant challenges remain in aligning the expertise of applicants with available job opportunities in Hong Kong. Positions for middle-management are limited in specific sectors like medical and internet technology, typically concentrated in finance, insurance, and law[para. 36]. Despite its role in attracting young talent, whether TTPS can meet Hong Kong's specific needs remains uncertain[para. 41].