Editorial | Honesty best policy with new Hong Kong visa rules
- From mid-June, in line with Hong Kong’s talent admission scheme, domestic helpers, imported workers, dependants and students must declare their criminal records
The relatively open immigration controls adopted by the government have made Hong Kong one of the world’s most accessible places. But they also enable foreigners to work, study and live here under various visa schemes, and apparently with few questions asked, including whether they have had any criminal records.
But the liberal approach will soon be tightened.
In line with the change in the talent admission scheme following an embarrassing case of visa approval, from mid-June domestic helpers, imported workers, dependants of residents and students applying for visas and entry permits will have to declare any criminal convictions.
This will also apply to those receiving training in the city or joining a working holiday scheme, but helpers already here will not be affected.
The new arrangement is more about consistency rather than perceived security threats from those with criminal records.
It comes after a mainland Chinese biophysicist, who had been jailed for illegal gene-editing of human embryos, was granted a work visa under the newly launched Top Talent Pass Scheme.
