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Hong Kong will extend visa-free short-term entry to professionals in another five sectors from Saturday, allowing more non-local talent to work temporarily without a permit as part of efforts to strengthen the city’s role as a “superconnector”. The government said on Friday that the expansion of the “immigration facilitation scheme” would cover the environment, occupational safety and health, maritime, think tank and “other” sectors. The additions will bring the total number of covered sectors to 17 since the scheme’s launch in June 2022. “[It] enables more talent to visit Hong Kong for exchanges, giving full play to Hong Kong’s strength as a ‘superconnector’ under the ‘one country, two systems’ framework,” the government said. It said the scheme had benefited more than 38,000 non-local professionals, enabling them to enter Hong Kong as visitors to take part in various short-term activities. These activities had included the International Lunar New Year Night Parade, the Asian Financial Forum, the Hong Kong Sevens rugby competition, the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo and other major events, it said. Following a review, the government said it decided to further expand the short-term activities scheme to cover the five new sectors. “This will inject greater flexibility into the short-term activities, thereby helping more non-local talent visit Hong Kong for exchanges,” it said. The scheme currently covers 12 sectors: medical and healthcare; higher education; arts and culture; sports; heritage; creative industries; innovation and technology; the Hong Kong Laureate Forum; aviation; international/mega-events; finance; and development and construction. Under the scheme, organisations authorised by the government can issue invitation letters to eligible non-local professionals in their respective sectors. Those invited may enter Hong Kong and take part in approved short-term activities as visitors without needing to apply for employment visas or entry permits from the Immigration Department. They may participate in these specified activities for up to 14 consecutive days upon each arrival and may receive pay. “Participation of the non-local talent in specified activities in Hong Kong must be conducive to economic development or achieving relevant policy objectives, without displacing the local workforce,” the government said. It added the “others” category would enable relevant policy bureaus or departments to invite non-local talent to attend events or activities they host under the scheme. Lawmaker Jesse Shang Hailong said the expansion could boost convenience and “willingness” for non-local talent visiting the city. He urged the government to cover more sectors that Hong Kong aimed to boost to develop its “eight centres” push under China’s 14th five-year plan. “I think Hong Kong still has a lot to learn from to develop the ‘eight centres’. If the government spots which sector Hong Kong is weak in, it should offer more convenience for non-local talent to come to Hong Kong to foster the exchange,” he said. The current 14th five-year plan, which covers 2021-25, outlined support for Hong Kong’s “eight centres” strategy, including reinforcing its role as an international financial, innovation and technology, trade and shipping centre, as well as an aviation hub. It also positioned Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for cultural exchange, a regional centre for international legal and dispute resolution services, and intellectual property trading.
