The Government today announced that a pilot scheme will be launched tomorrow to provide immigration facilitation for visitors participating in short-term activities in 10 designated sectors.

The 10 sectors are: medical & healthcare, higher education, arts & culture, sports, heritage, creative industries, innovation & technology, Hong Kong Laureate Forum, aviation and international/mega events.

Under the scheme that will run for two years, host organisations authorised by relevant government bureaus or departments can issue invitation letters to non-local talent in their sectors. The invitees may come to Hong Kong to participate in designated short-term activities as visitors without the need to apply for employment visas/entry permits from the Immigration Department.

They are non-local talent in shortage or whose participation in designated short-term activities in Hong Kong is conducive to economic development or achieving relevant policy objectives, and may participate in the designated short-term activities for up to 14 days upon each arrival and receive remuneration for the activities concerned.

To implement the pilot scheme and monitor its implementation, the relevant bureaus and departments have issued Immigration Department guidelines to the authorised host organisations in their respective sectors and established reporting and communication mechanisms.

Meanwhile, the current immigration facilitation for non-local speakers will be further relaxed.

Also from tomorrow, non-local speakers across the board can deliver speeches/presentations without the need to apply for an employment visa/entry permit for 14 consecutive days (up from seven days) upon each arrival, and the cap on the number of events will be removed.

The condition that they should not be remunerated other than for expenses in respect of the provision of accommodation, passage and meals relating to the event will remain unchanged.

Those who require a visa/entry permit to visit Hong Kong may also benefit from the pilot scheme and facilitation for non-local speakers without the need to apply for a separate employment visa/entry permit. However, they still need to apply for a visit visa/entry permit.

The invitees are subject to applicable immigration control for visiting Hong Kong, including examination upon arrival in accordance with the applicable laws, policies and practices. They are also subject to prevailing COVID-19 related entry restrictions.