Let in more mainland talent, says Henry Tang

Skilled workers from the mainland should be allowed to come to Hong Kong as freely as other foreign nationals, a senior government minister said yesterday.

Secretary for Industry, Commerce and Technology Henry Tang Ying-yen said the existing rules for the admission of mainland professionals were too stringent and should be relaxed to tackle the looming shortage of professionals in the SAR.

'We want to become a magnet for talent. America, Shanghai and Singapore are doing their best to attract skills. They say whoever has the most talent will win the race, so why do we wear steel shoes by discriminating against our own people just because they are from the mainland?' Mr Tang asked. 'My bureau has given its support to the relaxation. They [the mainland professionals] should be treated as if they were from overseas countries.'

Mr Tang's call came as Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen reviews the SAR's population policy. Financial Secretary Antony Leung Kam-chung has long proposed to increase the flow of capital and talent between Hong Kong and the mainland.

Professor Lau Siu-kai, the head of the Central Policy Unit and a key designer of the population policy, also believes the existing rules need to be reviewed.

At present, mainland professionals must gain entry to the territory under the Admission of Talents Scheme, introduced in 2000, and the Admission of Mainland Professionals Scheme, introduced last year. Foreigners can gain entry by simply applying for a work visa. Only 492 mainland professionals have arrived under both schemes. Under the talents scheme, people are allowed limited visits from their families, while family reunions are not allowed at all under the professionals scheme. However, foreign professionals can bring their families to live with them.