EditorialGlobal Talent Summit Week affirms Hong Kong’s push for diversity, innovation

The Global Talent Summit Week has drawn more than 7,000 participants and over 130,000 online with an international forum, an expo and nine satellite events that include award ceremonies, conferences and recruitment fairs. At the summit’s International Talent Forum, discussions explored how Hong Kong can work more closely with the mainland Chinese cities covered by the Greater Bay Area. One panel looked at ways to integrate overseas and mainland talent in response to economic change. Top academics including a Nobel laureate joined industry leaders in exploring issues ranging from the future of work and the impact of artificial intelligence to the shifting roles of education, innovation and talent development.

City leader John Lee Ka-chiu told the forum that Hong Kong had by the end of last month approved over 410,000 applications under talent schemes commenced in 2022. Over 270,000 of the professionals have already settled in the city. The chief executive said Hong Kong had strong support from mainland China under the nation’s latest five-year plan. The city in turn is further aligning itself with national development strategies, leveraging its position as a high-end international talent hub.

Yu Jiadong, China’s vice-minister of human resources and social security, said Hong Kong’s appeal to global talent is rising. He said the city has a unique position as the “southern gateway” for global talent entering the mainland and the “bridgehead” for Chinese talent going global.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han dismissed concerns that outreach so far has been mostly mainland-focused. He said about one quarter of the fresh recruits arriving in Hong Kong are foreign passport holders.

The labour chief also said geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, are only likely to accelerate the process given the significant competitive advantages of Hong Kong’s relative security and stability.