***********************************************************
The Immigration Department (ImmD) announced today (April 28) that the pilot Admission Scheme for the Second Generation of Chinese Hong Kong Permanent Residents (ASSG) and other enhancements to the admission arrangements for talent, professionals and entrepreneurs will be implemented on May 4.
An ImmD spokesman said, "In view of the ageing population and shrinking labour force in Hong Kong, we need to ensure that our admission schemes can attract and retain talent, professionals and entrepreneurs from outside Hong Kong to support our economic development."
The ASSG aims to attract the second generation of Chinese Hong Kong permanent residents who have emigrated overseas to return to Hong Kong. There is no quota under this scheme and applicants are not required to have secured an offer of employment before entry.
The spokesman added, "We welcome people with valuable skills, knowledge or experience from all over the world to work and live in Hong Kong. Apart from the pilot scheme, we will also enhance existing talent admission schemes to improve the attractiveness of Hong Kong on this front. Specifically, stay arrangements under the various talent admission schemes (i.e. the General Employment Policy, the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals and the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)) will be relaxed; the point-scoring scheme under the QMAS will be adjusted to attract talent with excellent educational background or international work experience; and the admission arrangement for entrepreneurs including start-up entrepreneurs will be set out clearly. We will also step up promotion of the various admission schemes and arrangements through our offices outside Hong Kong."
Detailed information on the ASSG and the enhanced talent admission arrangements is available at the website of the ImmD at www.immd.gov.hk/eng/useful_information/admission-schemes-talents-professionals-entrepreneurs.html.0
The Chief Executive announced in the 2015 Policy Address that a more proactive approach will be taken to recruit talent and professionals from outside Hong Kong by introducing a number of enhancement measures. Details of the measures were announced by the ImmD today for implementation on May 4.
Ends/Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Issued at HKT 18:36
NNNN
