The Hong Kong government has introduced the first year quota of 1,000 under the “Technology Talent Admission Scheme”

The government announced the launch of the "Technology Talent Admission Scheme" to meet the recruitment needs of the innovation and technology sector.  Successful technology companies or organizations will be allocated a quota of imported talents.  The project will be implemented as a pilot for three years.  A maximum of 1,000 technology talents will be recruited in the first operation year.  The scheme will first apply to tenants and cultivate companies engaged in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, cyber security, robotics, data analysis, fintech and materials science in HKSTP and CyberPort.

The secretary for innovation and technology, Mr Yang wei-hsiung, said that the scheme would greatly simplify the application procedures and reduce the time required for entry of technology talents. It would effectively help technology companies or organizations recruit locally scarce technology talents from overseas and the mainland.  He pointed out that the technology innovation wave is sweeping the world, and the development of technology innovation, talent is the key to win, Hong Kong must facilitate the industry in policy to get the required technology talent.

At the quota application stage, the applicant technology companies or organizations are required to prove to the innovation and technology commission that Hong Kong lacks or cannot easily find talents with relevant skills, knowledge or experience.  The arrangement not only protects the employment opportunities of local people, but also avoids the need to repeatedly prove the shortage of local talents in each case, so that the required talents can be put to work as soon as possible under the rapid arrangement.  Successful applicants will receive a quota of up to 100 persons per year.

Mr Yang wei-hsiung noted that by issuing quotas, the scheme would provide certainty for technology companies or organizations to recruit and make business plans as quickly as possible.  The programme also promotes the development of local technology talents.  The scheme provides for the employment of one full-time local employee and two local interns for every three non-local employees.  All these local employees are required to take up technology-related jobs.

TechTAS will decide whether to issue quotas to technology companies or organizations after taking into account the views of the HKSTP or cyberport.  The target is to complete the approval within 2 weeks if all the information submitted by the latter is available.  A company or organization which has been granted a quota may submit an application for a work visa or entry permit to the immigration department on behalf of the person named in the quota after finding a person who meets the requirements of the quota.  It normally takes about 2 weeks to process the application after all the necessary documents have been submitted.

Those who plan to come to Hong Kong are required to hold a university degree in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM), i.e. "QS World University Rankings", the "Times Higher Education World University Rankings" and the "Academic Ranking of World Universities" are awarded by the first 100 universities related to STEM.   No work experience is required for a master's or doctorate degree, and at least one year of work experience in a relevant technology field is required for a bachelor's degree.

TechTAS will give briefing to the Technology Park Corporation and Cyberport tenants and incubation companies in the period from the end of May to mid-June. The target is to start accepting applications in June this year.