The Government today revealed that its talent-related initiatives have received a positive response, with some 61,000 out of 100,000 applications to various talent admission schemes receiving approval as of the end of June.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun hosted a seminar with local business chambers and the human resource management sector to review the implementation of talent and manpower-related work in the first year of the current-term Government, and to exchange views regarding such work in future.

Besides actively nurturing and retaining local talent, the Government seeks talent from outside of Hong Kong as a spur to growth, and it began implementing a series of talent attraction measures from late December last year.

Notably, the Top Talent Pass Scheme has had an overwhelming response, with around 26,000 of over 36,000 applications being approved.

On May 16, the Government expanded its Talent List to cover 51 professions, up from 13. Since then, the list has been applied to the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, the General Employment Policy and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents & Professionals, with a view to attracting more high-quality talent to meet Hong Kong's development needs.

The Government said it was confident of meeting a target set out in the Policy Address for this year of admitting at least 35,000 outside applicants with an intended duration of stay of at least 12 months.

It added that it is conducting a new round of manpower projections, the findings from which will be ready in the third quarter of 2024 and will inform future manpower planning work.

Another initiative launched by Government at the end of 2022 was the Hong Kong Talent Engage online platform, which provides one-stop information and support services for incoming talent. The Labour & Welfare Bureau is also preparing to set up a physical office to undertake the frontline work of attracting and supporting talent. 

In relation to importing labour, the bureau launched a Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes on June 19. Specific labour importation schemes for the construction and transport sectors have also been rolled out this month.