Rules applied to talented and professional mainlanders coming to Hong Kong are too harsh and need to be reviewed, according to the head of the Central Policy Unit.
Professor Lau Siu-kai said the existing rules under the Admission of Talents Scheme and the Admission of Mainland Professionals Scheme, as well as the immigration law that requires a person to ordinarily live in Hong Kong for seven years before becoming a permanent resident, had deterred people from coming.
Professor Lau's comments come as Chief Secretary Donald Tsang Yam-kuen is reviewing population policy, with a report expected to be released before the end of the year.
Liberal Party chairman James Tien Pei-chun, who is also a member of the Executive Council, suggested recently that some of the daily 150 one-way permit quota should be allocated to mainland professionals. Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Henry Tang Ying-yen also said on Saturday that mainland professionals should be treated fairly.
But such comments have brought from human rights groups the criticism that it would undermine the chances of other mainlanders seeking family reunions.
At present, mainland professionals can come to the territory under the Admission of Talents Scheme launched in 2000 and the Admission of Mainland Professionals Scheme launched in June last year. However, foreigners can come by simply applying for a work visa.
So far only 238 have arrived under the talents scheme, while another 191 arrived under the professionals programme.