Connecting talents
Connecting Talents
How Hong Kong is cultivating the next generation of professionals.
Talent attracts talent. The best and brightest seek out opportunity – whether it is to get a quality education, join a top company or launch their own start-up. Home to four of the world’s top 100 universities and ranked number one in economic freedom – it’s no wonder that Hong Kong draws talented people from around the world.
The Good life
Ranked as the world’s second most competitive economy by the IMD, Hong Kong abounds in opportunities.
Life in Hong Kong has plenty of perks. The atmosphere is liberal and cosmopolitan. English is widely spoken. The culinary culture is one of the best in the world with everything from tasty street-side food stalls to five-star fine dining. The cuisine ranges from Cantonese to Western to Indian and everything in between. Hong Kong is one of the safest cities in the world, and despite the large population, Hong Kong has abundant natural areas – beautiful beaches for relaxing or stunning mountains crisscrossed by hiking trails perfect for nature watching.
On a practical level, Hong Kong offers real incentives and benefits to professionals who move to the city. The healthcare system is world-class. The tax regime is competitive. There is no sales tax or VAT, no withholding tax, capital gains tax, or tax on dividends. Ranked as the world’s second most competitive economy by the Switzerland-based International Institute for Management Development, Hong Kong abounds in opportunities.
A stage For talent
In Hong Kong, demand for talent is high, especially in key sectors that contribute to the development of a high value-added and diversified economy. In August 2018, the government introduced the first Talent List, targeting professionals in a wide range of fields that Hong Kong needs most.
Hong Kong is a leading port and maritime services center. So naval architects, marine engineers and superintendents of ships are in demand. Hong Kong also has one of the highest concentrations of insurers in Asia, which means marine insurance professionals are needed. Being Asia’s largest financial center, a leading investment hub and home to the world’s sixth largest stock exchange, Hong Kong needs asset management and fintech professionals. As a major arbitration center, dispute resolution professionals and lawyers with experience in matters related to arbitration are needed.
To keep up with the changes and future-proof the economy, the skills of innovation and technology experts, data scientists and cybersecurity specialists are in demand. As Hong Kong makes major efforts to go green, waste treatment specialists are welcome. Creative industry professionals, such as mastering engineers, recording engineers, game development experts and film professionals are also on the list. People who meet the requirements under the Talent List are eligible for immigration facilitation under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS).
Being Asia’s largest financial center, a leading investment hub and home to the world’s sixth largest stock exchange, Hong Kong needs asset management and fintech professionals.
Staying true to its commitment to welcome talent and experts, Hong Kong launched the Technology Talent Admission Scheme this June.
Staying true to its commitment to welcome talent and experts, Hong Kong launched the Technology Talent Admission Scheme this June. Tenants and incubatees of Cyberport and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation that are engaged in the areas of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, cyber security, robotics, data analytics, financial technologies and material science can enjoy fast-track arrangement to admit overseas and Mainland technology talent to undertake research and development work through the scheme. With top-notch tertiary institutions and outstanding scientific research achievements, the city is an ideal hub for international scientific research talent.
In preparation for Industry 4.0, a Technology Talent Scheme was launched this August. There are two initiatives under this scheme. One is the Postdoctoral Hub programme that provides funding support to eligible organizations and companies to hire up to two postdoctoral recruits in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)-related disciplines for research and development work. The other is the Reindustrialisation and Technology Training Programme, which subsidizes local companies to train their staff in advanced technologies.
Closer to home, an admission scheme for the second generation of Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents was launched in May 2015. This scheme has no sectoral restrictions and applicants do not need to secure a job in Hong Kong before entry, making it attractive for them to return to Hong Kong for career development.
Anyone who want to work or set up business in Hong Kong can apply for the General Employment Policy as a professional or entrepreneur, which also has no sectoral restrictions.
Calling Hong Kong Home
Swiss industrial designer, Roger Juerg Kellenberger’s creations are slick and futuristic. His deceptively simple bent plywood snow sled concept, “Bendit” was a Red Dot Design Award winner in 2011. The QMAS helped Kellenberger relocate to Hong Kong which he describes as, “…a vibrant city which welcomes creativity and innovation.”
Artiste Li Bingbing, from Mainland China, found commercial and critical success on the big screen, and won the Best Actress award for “The Message” at the 46th Golden Horse Awards in 2009. She also came to Hong Kong under the QMAS. She describes Hong Kong as “a multi-ethnical and multi-cultural cosmopolitan city that has provided me with more favorable conditions and opportunities to demonstrate the greatness of Chinese culture deposits in its people.”
“A vibrant city which welcomes creativity and innovation”
- Roger Juerg Kellenberger
Meet you in Hong Kong
The sight of Hong Kong’s famous skyline, framed by mountains and beautiful Victoria Harbor in the foreground symbolize the appeal of the city that draws tens of millions of visitors every year. But for some, Hong Kong has a deeper appeal. The attraction of joining a multicultural community of professionals, living in a place where talent is valued. A place rich in culture, with plenty of opportunities for leisure and recreation. A vibrant economy striding towards the future. For those people, they’ll find their place in Hong Kong.