Hong Kong will extend visa-free short-term entry to professionals in five more sectors from November 1, allowing more non-local talent to work temporarily without a permit as part of efforts to strengthen the city’s role as a superconnector.
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The government said on Friday that the expansion of the “immigration facilitation scheme” would include the environment, occupational safety and health, maritime, think tanks and other sectors.
The addition 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.
The government 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.
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These activities have included the International Lunar New Year Night Parade, the Asian Financial Forum, the Hong Kong Sevens, the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo and other major events, it said.
Following a review, the government decided to further expand the short-term activities scheme to cover five new sectors – environment, occupational safety and health, maritime, think tanks and others.