Hong Kong's chief executive Donald Tsang said Wednesday the
government would relax restrictions on the city's Quality Migrant
Admission Scheme, a program allowing favorable treatment for talent
wishing to settle in Hong Kong.
A total of 28,000 people from around the globe came to work and
settled in China's special administrative region of Hong Kong last
year, among whom 5,500 were from the mainland, Tsang said in the
first policy address of his second term as chief executive.
Tsang said he would ease restrictions on the scheme such as age
limit and other prerequisites and actively promote the Quality
Migrant Admission Scheme to attract more mainland and overseas
talent to come and contribute to Hong Kong's development.
"Global competition means that we have to compete for markets as
well as talent. Hong Kong's future development requires more talent
from the mainland and overseas," he said.
Hong Kong launched the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme in June
2006, under which applicants do not need to acquire an offer of
local employment beforehand, but would have to meet a series of
strict prerequisites and pass points-based test.
The current age limit for the scheme was between 18 and 50.
While attracting celebrities like mainland pianists Lang Lang,
badminton player Zhou Mi and former NHL star Barry Beck, the scheme
has been known for its strict requirements, leading to an applicant
number lower than the quota.
(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2007)