HK's talent schemes should be industry-driven: DAB
The DAB has proposed that Hong Kong shift its push to attract talent from one that's driven by volume to one that's industry focused so as to better build it into an international hub for the highly skilled. The government has put in place a series of schemes since 2022 that has attracted more than 300,000 professionals so far. For instance, it said, more than 50 percent of those arriving under…
The Hong Kong Design Bureau (DAB) has recommended that the city shift its focus on attracting talent from a volume-driven approach to an industry-focused model. This shift aims to enhance Hong Kong's status as an international hub for highly skilled professionals. Since 2022, the government has implemented various schemes, attracting over 300,000 professionals. Notably, more than half of those who arrived under the Top Talent Pass Scheme have applied to extend their stay by the end of February.
Frankie Ngan, group vice-convenor, suggested allocating quotas for specific industries, such as AI, to prevent talent mismatches. Currently, applicants are not required to secure a job before arriving. Ngan emphasized that when the top talent policy was introduced, Hong Kong welcomed talent from around the world for both life and work. However, he noted that some top talent could not find suitable jobs and had to transition to other industries.
To address this issue, Ngan proposed reducing the annual cap for category C applicants, who are recent university graduates with limited work experience, from 10,000 to 5,000. The remaining 5,000 should be allocated to a new category focused on fostering new, productive forces to meet the demands of emerging industries. The government should also review the manpower shortage more frequently, ideally every six months instead of the current two-year cycle, to identify sectors with talent shortages and provide clearer job opportunities for skilled individuals.
Ngan stressed that this information is crucial for potential talent, local labor, universities, schools, and new industries and businesses.
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