Hong Kong talent headhunting scheme attracts thousands of applicants, including HK$2 million-plus earners
- 5,800 applicants for new talent scheme; 800, including mainland Chinese, earn more than HK$2 million a year, chief secretary says
- Eric Chan releases figures as he prays for city prosperity at traditional Well-wishing Festival in Tai Po
Hong Kong received 5,800 applications in the first two weeks of the launch of a new scheme to attract talent to the city, including 800 who earned at least HK$2.5 million (US$319,100) a year, the city’s chief secretary revealed on Sunday.
Eric Chan Kwok-ki released the figures as he wished the best for Hong Kong, including an influx of talent from around the world, at a ceremony on the first day of Lunar New Year.
“We have received about 5,800 applications – this figure is big. Also, there are more than 800 talent applicants from the mainland or overseas who earn more than HK$2.5 million a year,” he said. “With such a good result in the first two weeks, it proves Hong Kong is a big attraction.”
Chan was speaking after he prayed for the city’s prosperity at a ceremony at the Hong Kong Well-wishing Festival at Lam Tsuen in Tai Po, a tradition that resumed this Lunar New Year after it was suspended for two years because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chan said his other wishes were for the full resumption of normal travel between the city and mainland China, collaboration among all walks of life and the achievement of effective governance and social harmony.
The government launched an online platform on December 28 as part of its effort to “trawl the world for talent” after the city’s workforce contracted by about 140,000 in the past two years.
The number of work visas issued also fell, from around 41,800 in 2019 to 13,800 in 2021.
Hundreds of people thronged the festival on the first day of the Year of the Rabbit with many crowding around a “wishing tree” in the village to throw charms for good luck.
Some told the Post that they wished the city would this year emerge from the misery caused by the pandemic.
They said they wanted good health and economic recovery for all as they at last could enjoy a Lunar New Year with few social-distancing restrictions.
“The pandemic has been going on for so long,” said Angela Chu, a medical professional in her 50s.
“I hope the number of cases will continue to fall as the borders reopen and that Hong Kong can return to prosperity and security. I also hope that everyone can earn lots this year.”
Chu added that she hoped the mask mandate would soon be lifted as well.
A 53-year-old father, who gave his surname as Chan, said he had also prayed for the city’s prosperity.
“We are finally happy and relaxed after three years of the pandemic. I wish for prosperity for Hong Kong, peace for the world and that everyone has a job, ” Chan said. “We hope my children get a good education and a good life.”
Festival organiser Lucas Cheung Yuk-man said he was satisfied with the attendance.
He added he hoped it would attract crowds of the pre-pandemic levels of more 100,000 during this year’s holidays.
“We put in lots of effort each year in hopes of organising the festival, but we couldn’t do that until this year as the pandemic eased,” Cheung said.
Meanwhile, week-long Lunar New Year fairs in 15 areas ended on Sunday morning, recording more than 1.14 million visitors in total. Visitor numbers at the biggest, the Victoria Park fair in Causeway Bay, peaked on Saturday with more than 100,000 attending.
The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department said about 85.6 tonnes of materials with reusable value were collected at the 15 fairs to strengthen recycling efforts, while vendors donated 150 pots of unsold flowers and plants to 30 care homes for the elderly and disabled, as well as two public hospitals.
