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The Immigration Department has announced it would start receiving applications today (June 28) under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme.
The scheme, which was an initiative announced in the 2005 Policy Address, is aimed at attracting talented people from the Mainland and overseas to develop their careers in Hong Kong.
An Immigration Department spokesman said the scheme was quota-based and operated on a points-based system and an initial annual quota of 1,000 had been set. "Selection exercises will be conducted on a regular basis to allocate the quota to the most meritorious applicants. Successful applicants are not required to secure an offer of local employment before entering Hong Kong. They may also apply to bring in their spouse, and unmarried dependent children below the age of 18 under prevailing dependant policy," the spokesman said.
The applicants must:
(i) Be aged between 18 and 50 when lodging an application;
(ii) Be able to demonstrate that they are capable of supporting and accommodating themselves and their dependants, if any, on their own without relying on public assistance during their stay in Hong Kong;
(iii) Have no criminal or adverse immigration record in Hong Kong or elsewhere;
(iv) Be proficient in written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) or English; and
(v) Have a good education background, normally a first degree from a recognised university or tertiary educational institution. In special circumstances, good technical qualifications, proven professional abilities and/or experience and achievements supported by documentary evidence may be considered.
Applicants are required to choose to be assessed under one of the two point-based tests under the scheme - the General Points Test and the Achievement-based Points Test, and compete for quota allocation. The maximum points for both tests is 165.
Under the General Points Test, a minimum passing mark will be set. The minimum passing mark may be changed as and when required in each selection exercise. Interested parties are advised to view the minimum passing mark for each selection exercise through the Immigration Department website at www.immd.gov.hk and to assess whether their credentials are adequate to meet this mark before they submit an application. Applicants may score points according to the following five point-scoring factors:
(i) Age: Applicants may be awarded points in a scale according to their age;
(ii) Academic/Professional qualifications: Applicants may acquire points for either academic or professional qualifications;
(iii) Working experience: Applicants may be awarded points according to their length of working experience in a graduate/specialist/senior role;
(iv) Language proficiency: Applicants may be awarded points if they are proficient in both written and spoken Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) and English;
(v) Family background: Applicants may be awarded points if they have at least one immediate family member (parents, spouse, siblings, children) who is a Hong Kong permanent resident residing in Hong Kong; their accompanying spouse has completed a degree or equivalent level of study; or their accompanying unmarried dependent children are under the age of 18.
The Achievement-based Points Test is designed for individuals with exceptional talent or skill and who have outstanding achievements. It focuses on achievements attained by applicants. A maximum mark of 165 will be awarded if applicants have received award of exceptional achievement (e.g. Olympic medals, Nobel prize, national/international awards); or can show that their work has been acknowledged by their peers or has contributed significantly to the development of their field (e.g. lifetime achievement award from industry). Otherwise, no point will be awarded.
"Applicants who have met the minimum passing mark under the General Points Test, or have attained the maximum points under the Achievement-based Points Test, will be ranked according to their scores. High scoring applicants will be short-listed for selection by a non-statutory advisory committee appointed by the Chief Executive.
"The advisory committee, having regard to the socio-economic needs of the community, the sectoral mix of the short-listed applicants and other relevant factors, will recommend to the Director of Immigration on how best to allocate the quota. Membership of the advisory committee will be announced shortly," the spokesman said.
Successful applicants will normally be granted an initial stay of 12 months in Hong Kong. At the end of this period, entrants admitted under the scheme should be able to demonstrate that they have taken steps to settle in Hong Kong by taking up residence here, e.g. by securing gainful employment or establishing a business. If the entrant cannot demonstrate the taking of any such steps, only a 12-month extension may be granted by the Director of Immigration if he deems this appropriate. If the entrant is still not able to demonstrate taking the steps required by the end of the first 24 months, further extension of stay would normally not be granted.
At the end of the first 36 months, an entrant who wishes to further extend his stay must be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Director of Immigration that he has settled in Hong Kong and is making contribution to Hong Kong such as by having obtained gainful employment in a graduate/specialist/senior level job, or by having established a business of a reasonable size here.
Application forms, guidance notes and information pamphlets on the scheme can be obtained free of charge from the Immigration Department Headquarters, Immigration branch offices, overseas Chinese diplomatic and consular missions, overseas Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices, Immigration Section of the Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Beijing and Immigration Division of the Economic and Trade Office of the Government of the HKSAR in Guangdong. Information on the Scheme and application forms can also be downloaded from the Immigration Department website at www.immd.gov.hk. Applications must be made to the Immigration Department by post or in person.
Ends/Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:54
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