Editorial | Talent visas to speed up transition of city into bay area tech hub

Hong Kong is still counting the cost of the lost years of pandemic restrictions to the city’s development. The return to normality is a daily reminder. A case in point is the need to address a talent gap exacerbated by an exodus from the city. To help close it, mainland authorities have announced a pilot scheme for the liberalisation of visas for top mainland talent to enter Hong Kong and Macau.

Mobility of talent has always been key to Hong Kong’s standing as a financial hub. But it is also crucial to the development of the Greater Bay Area economic zone, and Hong Kong’s transition to a key role within it as an innovation and technology hub.

Covid-related travel restrictions and border closures effectively put all that on hold. The scrapping of these measures has paved the way for a radical overhaul of the visa regime for mainland professionals to enter Hong Kong in a push to speed up integration of both the city and Macau as special administrative regions.

Talent across a range of expertise will be able to apply for unlimited, multiple-entry permits for up to 30 days at a time over one to five years. Six eligible professional categories include science and research, academia, health, law and other higher management and professional personnel. The move effectively integrates nine mainland bay area cities and Hong Kong and Macau without border controls for the new visa holders.

06:19

High hopes for China’s Greater Bay Area, but integrating 11 cities will pose challenges

High hopes for China’s Greater Bay Area, but integrating 11 cities will pose challenges

It is a landmark in the integration of Hong Kong into the bay area, given that under the “one country, two systems” formula people in other bay area cities would normally need a special permit to enter the city and Macau for seven days.