Published: 9:20pm, 11 May 2025Updated: 9:21pm, 11 May 2025
Hong Kong’s immigration chief has said he is “not surprised” by the possibility snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan may relocate to the Middle East after the player obtained residency through a talent scheme last year.
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Director of immigration Benson Kwok Joon-fung’s comments on Sunday came after O’Sullivan indicated in an interview following his World Championship appearance that he might change his residency arrangement.
Kwok acknowledged Hong Kong faced “stiff competition” when it came to attracting top talent, adding the 49-year-old seven-time world champion also had a snooker academy in Dubai and that he respected his decision.
“It’s not surprising he would choose to develop in the Middle East. But he has also been recently preparing to open his snooker academy and club in Hong Kong,” Kwok told a radio programme.
“He hasn’t been able to return in the past few months to prepare for his new ventures and life here, so a definitive decision on his future residence may need to wait until he comes back to Hong Kong.”
Kwok added that since the adoption of talent acquisition policies in 2022, the department had approved more than 310,000 applications, with 400,000 to 500,000 people coming to Hong Kong, including family members of the main applicants.