The first batch of mainland professionals may arrive in Hong Kong as early as mid-July after SAR and Beijing immigration officials reached consensus yesterday on admission procedures.
The SAR's Deputy Director of Immigration Lai Tung-kwok, who met the Deputy Director of the Exit and Entry Administration Bureau of the Public Security Ministry, Zhang Yindi, in Beijing yesterday, said the SAR could start accepting applications from mainland professionals in June.
The admission scheme, announced in Financial Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's Budget last month, will first target the information technology and financial services sectors with no restrictions imposed on quota or the universities applicants graduate from.
Mr Lai said his department would issue successful applicants with permits to enter Hong Kong within four weeks after receiving all necessary information. The mainland authorities would then take about 15 days to grant permission and visas. He said the first batch of mainland professionals could arrive as early as mid-July if everything went smoothly.
Secretary for Security Regina Ip Lau Suk-yee has estimated that the scheme will attract hundreds of applicants.
To avoid the scheme being abused, Mr Lai said academic qualifications accreditation authorities in Hong Kong and the mainland had agreed to help verify applicants' educational backgrounds if necessary. Mainland professionals to be admitted under the scheme must possess skills and knowledge not readily available locally, and must be offered a pay package comparable to the prevailing market rate.