Hong Kong manufacturers throw weight behind easing admission scheme for foreign talent
Association chairman describes sector as ‘stagnant for more than 10 years’
The Hong Kong government should encourage international industrial talent with expertise in research and development to move to the city through a migrant admission scheme, a leading trade association said.
Daniel Cheng Man-chung, chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, said the industry needed to be jump-started. “Hong Kong’s manufacturing sector has remained stagnant for more than 10 years, lagging behind its regional rivals,” he said.
The association urged the government to foster interaction among local and international research and development institutions and well-known enterprises to promote cooperation in research.
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“The global market environment has changed,” Cheng said. “The manufacturing sector has to upgrade its products as well as its business model to stay competitive.”
To attract industry talent from around the world, Hong Kong should facilitate work visa applications, the association suggested.
It also urged authorities to allow more tax rebates as incentives to invest in industrial equipment.
