Party urges new skilled-talent visa and fewer C slots
HK01 · 2 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
A political party on Sunday released a talent policy proposal urging the government to refine how it brings in overseas and mainland workers, including by reducing some Category C places under the Top Talent Pass Scheme and adding a new Category D visa for high-skilled workers in “new quality productive forces” fields. The package also covers stricter action against fake academic qualifications, expanded university intake for non-local students, and stronger research infrastructure in the Hetao area and San Tin Technopole.
Key Points
- Former lawmaker Ngan Man-yu proposed updating Hong Kong’s talent shortage list every six months to target disciplines with the most acute manpower gaps
- He also suggested moderately cutting Top Talent Pass Scheme Category C places and adding a Category D visa for workers such as new-energy vehicle maintenance technicians and industrial robot operators and maintenance staff.
- Ngan said Category D renewals should carry binding conditions, including working in the relevant profession; on.cc also reported a proposed requirement for technology transfer.
- Lawmaker Chu Lap-wai called for tough enforcement over suspected false academic claims in quality migrant and professional visa cases, plus stronger Hong Kong-mainland cooperation on credential verification.
- Chu proposed raising the self-financed non-local student cap at local universities to 50% by 2027, with taught postgraduate programmes allowed to over-enrol by 120%.
- Lawmaker Cheung Pui-kong urged the city to seek central support for national key laboratories or branch centres in the Hetao Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park and San Tin Technopole.
Why It Matters
The proposals point to a more targeted talent strategy that would shift some emphasis from broad academic intake toward specific technical skills needed by Hong Kong’s emerging industries. They also suggest tighter screening and clearer renewal conditions could become part of future debate over how to balance talent attraction with credibility, industrial needs and education capacity.