Government unveils new programs to boost SAR’s arts and culture scene, seek skilled workers

Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu delivers the 2022 Policy Address at the Legislative Council on Wednesday morning. (ANDY CHONG / CHINA DAILY)

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government plans to woo about 35,000 professionals annually by casting a wider net for recruits, including a brand-new Top Talent Pass Scheme for graduates of the world’s top 100 universities. The city also plans to loosen restraints on current programs aimed at luring skilled workers.

The government will also map out a 10 year development blueprint for arts and cultural facilities, increasing the number of museums to 19 and the number of seats at performance venues by about 50 percent. The government also has invited the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts to establish a new campus in the Northern Metropolis to expedite Hong Kong’s progression into a hub for the arts and cultural exchanges between the Chinese mainland and the rest of the world.

Over the past two years, the local workforce shrank by about 140,000. Apart from actively nurturing and retaining local talent, the government will proactively trawl the world for talent.

John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive HKSAR

“Over the past two years, the local workforce shrank by about 140,000. Apart from actively nurturing and retaining local talent, the government will proactively trawl the world for talent,” Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said during his maiden Policy Address.

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Speaking to the media afterward, Lee said he is confident that the measures will be effective. While Hong Kong’s existing policies attract a certain amount of talent, the new initiatives will certainly do more, with the new development opportunities the city offers and the new policy tools to cast a wider net and attract talent, Lee said.

According to the 2022 Policy Address, a two-year Top Talent Pass Scheme aimed at high earners will be launched to encourage overseas professionals to settle in Hong Kong. An unlimited quota of two-year visas will be provided under the program for professionals earning HK$2.5 million ($318,500) or more a year or those who have graduated from the world’s top 100 universities with at least three years of work experience over the past five years.

In addition, hiring restraints for employing professionals from outside the city will be relaxed. For example, employers will no longer need to prove difficulty when hiring locals in 13 professions facing a manpower shortage, or when filling vacancies with an annual salary of HK$2 million or more. The Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates program will extend to cover graduates of Hong Kong universities’ campuses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, while the one-year unconditional stay for nonlocal graduates under the program will be extended to two years.

The annual quota of 4,000 workers under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme will also be suspended for two years, while employment visas for all programs will also be extended to a maximum period of three years.

The government also plans to refund the extra stamp duty for purchasing residential flats in the city for professionals who become permanent residents.

As part of wider efforts to spread the word on talent recruitment, the government will have its 17 mainland offices and overseas Economic and Trade Offices set up a dedicated team to reach out to target enterprises and professionals, liaising with the world’s top 100 universities, and promoting related programs.

To further its ambition of making the city a cultural hub, the government will form a new culture commission within the year. The task force, which will be led by the secretary for the newly established Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and comprising industry leaders, will begin operation in 2023 to map out a cultural and art-development blueprint.

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To encourage international art and cultural events in the city, the government will establish a HK$60 million Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund, handing out a maximum of HK$15 million for each event.

A new internship program that will offer 130 places for art-related students to take internships at art groups and the West Kowloon Cultural District for 12 to 18 months will also be rolled out.

The government also said it will launch a Pop Culture Festival annually from 2023, providing over 20 programs or exhibitions with an expected total attendance of over 140,000.

Contact the writers at lindaxi@chinadailyhk.com