The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with the Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, Ms Wang Xiaoping, today (May 6) to exchange views on Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's initiatives in attracting global talent and deepening talent collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong. Also attending the meeting were the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, and the Director of the Chief Executive's Office, Ms Carol Yip.
Mr Lee welcomed Ms Wang's visit to Hong Kong with her delegation to attend the Global Talent Summit · Hong Kong and its series of events. Mr Lee said that the strategy of trawling for and retaining talent is one of the priorities of the current-term HKSAR Government. He added that the Summit, which will be held for two consecutive days starting tomorrow (May 7), is organised by Hong Kong Talent Engage established by the HKSAR Government last year, and is the first talent-themed international forum and exhibition of the current-term HKSAR Government, with a view to promoting Hong Kong's dual role and advantages as an international talent hub and the country's gateway for talent.
Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government has been proactively attracting talent from the Mainland and overseas through different policy measures. As at the end of last month, 290 000 applications had been received under various talent admission schemes, with about 180 000 of them approved, and over 120 000 talents have arrived in Hong Kong. Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the Central Government for its support for the policy directions of the HKSAR Government by introducing various measures in supporting Hong Kong to attract talent. As part of these measures, the National Immigration Administration today implemented a number of measures to facilitate the public and enterprises' arrival in Hong Kong, including the extension of the period of stay for holders of an exit endorsement for business visit travelling to Hong Kong, and the expansion of application of the talent exit endorsement to Beijing and Shanghai. These measures will enhance convenience for Mainland businesspersons and traders who travel to Hong Kong and promote exchanges between the business community of the Mainland and Hong Kong.
Mr Lee said that the HKSAR Government will continue to foster talent co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong and promote training and mutual recognition of qualifications of vocational skilled talent. It will also maintain close liaison with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security to further promote the connection and exchanges of talent between the Mainland and Hong Kong, and attract more top-notch talent and enterprises from all over the world to Hong Kong, making greater contributions to the high-quality development of the country, Mr Lee added.
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