The Government announced today (February 18) that the latest round of the Talent List update has been completed. The new Talent List (see Annex) will take effect from March 1 (Saturday) and cover 60 professions with local talent shortages. Outside talents who meet the eligibility criteria for relevant professions can enjoy immigration facilitation when applying under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP).

​     Following the update, the Talent List will include nine newly added professions from the industry segments of financial services (accountants, financial professionals with Islamic market experience and experienced professionals in commodities trading), innovation and technology (experienced systems architects and patent professionals), legal and dispute resolution services (legal knowledge engineers) and aviation and shipping (ship surveyors, professionals in green shipping and aircraft maintenance engineers). 

​     The Chief Executive announced in his Policy Address last year that the Government will update the Talent List in early 2025 to include top talents and professionals required for the development of industries related to the "eight centres" with a view to generating new impetus for their growth. The Labour and Welfare Bureau and relevant bureaux and departments updated the professions covered in the Talent List after careful consideration and in consultation with stakeholders including industry organisations of various sectors, major business chambers, the Human Resources Planning Commission and the Labour Advisory Board.

​     A Government spokesman said, "In reviewing the Talent List, the Government has considered whether talents of the professions concerned are readily available in the local employment market and whether the talents in demand cannot be nurtured by local training in good time. This round of update has also included emerging industries, as well as some professional occupations identified in the 2023 Manpower Projection announced last November as being in demand in the coming five years, requiring academic qualifications at degree level or above."

​     The updated List, detailed specifications of individual professions and the guidance note for applying under applicable admission schemes have been uploaded to the dedicated website (www.talentlist.gov.hk) and the website of Hong Kong Talent Engage (www.hkengage.gov.hk). Those interested in submitting applications for the admission schemes can visit the electronic application platform of the Immigration Department (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/index.html#tab_b_1) and submit applications.

​     The Government drew up the first List in 2018 with a view to attracting high-quality talent in an effective and focused manner. The List has been reviewed and expanded in 2021 and 2023 respectively to cover the talents that Hong Kong needs most. Under the GEP and the ASMTP, employers who seek to fill vacancies falling under the professions on the List are not required to provide proof to substantiate their difficulties in local recruitment when making applications, thus shortening the time to recruit outside talents. Furthermore, since the revamp of the QMAS that took effect on November 1 last year, eligible applicants who meet the requirements of the List will be favourably considered under the General Points Test of the QMAS after assessment.

     The overall Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) caseload in January showed a drop of 109 cases, representing a decrease of 0.1 per cent compared with that of December 2024, according to the latest CSSA caseload statistics released by the Social Welfare Department today (February 18).

     The total CSSA caseload at the end of January stood at 195 587 (see attached table), with a total of 263 339 recipients.

     Analysed by case nature, low-earnings cases registered a month-to-month decrease of 1.9 per cent to 1 369 cases. Unemployment cases decreased by 0.7 per cent to 16 058 cases. Single parent cases dropped by 0.4 per cent to 19 081 cases. Permanent disability cases declined by 0.3 per cent to 16 713 cases.

     Old age cases registered an increase of 0.2 per cent to 110 719 cases. Ill-health cases remained steady at 27 775 cases.

     Police today (February 18) appealed to the public for information on a man who went missing in Cheung Sha Wan.
 
     LAU Kok-yim, aged 92, went missing after he was last seen at a hospital on Wing Hong Street, Cheung Sha Wan on February 14 night. His family made a report to Police yesterday (February 17).
 
     He is about 1.75 metres tall, 60 kilograms in weight and of thin build. He has a sharp face with yellow complexion and short white hair. He was last seen wearing a blue jacket, black trousers, black shoes and carrying a light brown bag.
 
     Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing man or may have seen him is urged to contact the Regional Missing Person Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station

  

     According to the statistics released by the Census and Statistics Department today (February 18), the provisional estimate of the Hong Kong population was 7 534 200 at end-2024, representing an increase of 6 400 or 0.1% from 7 527 900 at end-2023.
 
     The population increase between end-2023 and end-2024 was mainly attributable to a net inflow of 21 000 Hong Kong residents (i.e. inflow more than outflow) recorded during the period. Over the same period, a natural decrease (i.e. deaths surpassing births) of 14 700 was recorded, with 36 700 births and 51 400 deaths.
 
     Among the total population at end-2024, 7 267 100 were Usual Residents and 267 100 were Mobile Residents. The revised figure for the mid-year population for 2024 was 7 524 100. The number of Usual Residents was revised to 7 257 300 and the number of Mobile Residents to 266 800. The rate of change in population from mid-2023 to mid-2024 was also revised to -0.2%.
 
     Table 1 presents estimated total population as at end-2024, while Table 2 presents population figures from mid-2013 to end-2024.
 
Commentary
   
     A government spokesperson pointed out that the Hong Kong population registered an increase for the third consecutive years amid resumption of normalcy. Continuing to benefit from various measures on talent attraction and labour importation, many people moved to Hong Kong from the Mainland and other places around the world throughout 2024, resulting in an increase of 0.3% in Usual Residents as at end-2024 as compared to end-2023, and thus an increase in the overall population.
     
Further information
    
     "Usual Residents" refer to two categories of people: (1) Hong Kong Permanent Residents who have stayed in Hong Kong for at least three months during the six months before or for at least three months during the six months after the reference time-point, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or not at the reference time-point; and (2) Hong Kong Non-permanent Residents who are in Hong Kong at the reference time-point.
 
     For those Hong Kong Permanent Residents who are not "Usual Residents", they are classified as "Mobile Residents" if they have stayed in Hong Kong for at least one month but less than three months during the six months before or for at least one month but less than three months during the six months after the reference time-point, regardless of whether they are in Hong Kong or not at the reference time-point.
 
     Under the current practice, the latest population estimate is released on a provisional basis in each round. The revised estimate will be released six months later. In other words, while the provisional population estimate for end-2024 is released today, the corresponding revised estimate will be released in August 2025.
 

     According to the latest labour force statistics (i.e. provisional figures for November 2024 – January 2025) released today (February 18) by the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stood at 3.1% in November 2024 – January 2025, same as that in October – December 2024. The underemployment rate also remained unchanged at 1.1% in the two periods.
 
     Comparing November 2024 – January 2025 with October – December 2024, movements in the unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) and underemployment rate in different industry sectors varied, but the magnitudes were generally not large.
 
     Total employment decreased by around 2 300 from 3 718 900 in October – December 2024 to 3 716 600 in November 2024 – January 2025. Over the same period, the labour force also decreased by around 5 700 from 3 832 400 to 3 826 700.
 
     The number of unemployed persons (not seasonally adjusted) decreased by around 3 500 from 113 600 in October – December 2024 to 110 100 in November 2024 – January 2025. The number of underemployed persons in November 2024 – January 2025 was 43 000, about the same as that in October – December 2024 (43 500).
       
Commentary
 
     Commenting on the latest unemployment figures, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, said, "The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed low at 3.1% in November 2024 – January 2025, same as October – December 2024. The underemployment rate also remained unchanged at 1.1%. The labour force and total employment were at 3 826 700 and 3 716 600 respectively, declining slightly from the preceding three-month period."
 
     Compared with the preceding three-month period, the unemployment rates of various sectors showed diverse movements in November 2024 – January 2025, but the changes were not large in general.
 
     Looking ahead, Mr Sun said, "The labour market should remain largely stable in the near term, though uncertainties in the global economy would continue to pose challenges to some businesses."
 
Further information
 
     The unemployment and underemployment statistics were compiled from the findings of the continuous General Household Survey.
 
     In the survey, the definitions used in measuring unemployment and underemployment follow closely those recommended by the International Labour Organization. The employed population covers all employers, self-employed persons, employees (including full-time, part-time, casual workers, etc.) and unpaid family workers. Unemployed persons by industry (or occupation) are classified according to their previous industry (or occupation).
 
     The survey for November 2024 – January 2025 covered a sample of some 26 000 households or 68 000 persons, selected in accordance with a scientifically designed sampling scheme to represent the population of Hong Kong. Labour force statistics compiled from this sample represented the situation in the moving three-month period of November 2024 to January 2025.
 
     Data on labour force characteristics were obtained from the survey by interviewing each member aged 15 or over in the sampled households.
 
     Statistical tables on the latest labour force statistics can be downloaded at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode200.html). More detailed analysis of the labour force characteristics is given in the "Quarterly Report on General Household Survey" which is published four times a year. The latest issue of the report contains statistics for the quarter July – September 2024 while the next issue covering the quarter October – December 2024 will be available by end February 2025. Users can also browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1050001&scode=200).
 
     For enquiries about labour force statistics, please contact the General Household Survey Section (3) of the C&SD (Tel: 2887 5508 or email: ghs@censtatd.gov.hk).