Actor urges promotion of quality migrant scheme

Award-winning mainland actor Hu Jun will soon be one of Hong Kong's newest residents thanks to the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme.

But the Beijing-born actor, who learned about the scheme from the internet, said it was time that the government stepped up publicity to attract eligible applicants on the mainland.

'[The administration] should press harder [to promote the scheme] so that more people can be aware of it,' Hu said yesterday after completing formalities and receiving his Hong Kong visa at the Immigration Department's Wan Chai office.

Unlike pianists Lang Lang and Li Yundi , who had applied through the achievement-based points test, Hu claimed his residency through the general criteria points test.

Applicants must score over 80 on the general points test, using age, professional qualifications and work experience as criteria.

Asked how many points he had scored, Hu replied: 'Much higher than the basic requirement.'

He said he had applied at the end of last year and would activate the visa next time he returned.