Hong Kong’s goal of retaining 50,000 talent scheme visa holders is ‘extremely low’: lawmaker

A government target of annually retaining 50,000 people who have moved to Hong Kong under various talent schemes is “extremely low” and may send the wrong message that the city is unable to keep them, a lawmaker has warned.

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said in his policy address earlier in October that the administration aimed to extend visas for at least 50,000 newcomers annually from 2025 to 2027.

But Jesse Shang Hailong, a lawmaker and chairman of the Hong Kong Top Talent Services Association, said on Tuesday that the target was “easy to achieve” and “extremely low” based on the enthusiastic response to the schemes.

Hong Kong approved nearly 240,000 out of 380,000 visa applications under different talent schemes over the past two years, according to official data.

“I believe at the end of this year, there will be over 400,000 applicants and over 250,000 will be approved,” he told a radio programme.

“If a large number of people have applied for an identity card and the number of those who stay in Hong Kong is low with many leaving and giving up the temporary identity card … it may reflect negatively with the message being that Hong Kong has limited opportunities or failed to retain them.”