HONG KONG – The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region remains a preferred destination for global talent, with the city approving more than 300,000 applications for various talent admission programs from the end of 2022 to March 2025, Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said on Monday.

Sun made the remarks in a speech at the plenary session of the Seventh Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Human Resources Development Ministerial Meeting in Jeju, South Korea.

He said the SAR had received a total of 460,000 applications and more than 300,000 were approved as of the end of March.

The HKSAR launched a number of talent attraction measures since the end of 2022 to cope with the city’s ageing population and manpower shortage.

Highlighting the impact of broader trends, such as economic restructuring and technology advance, on demand for job roles and skills, Sun said SAR was forecast to have an overall manpower shortage of 180,000 in 2028, with over one-third being skilled technical workers.

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“According to a study by the IMF (International Monetary Fund), nearly 40 percent of jobs globally are likely to be impacted by AI (artificial intelligence), in particular in high-skill sectors,” he said.

The talent programs include the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), which was launched in 2022 to attract individuals from different professions with high income or a full-time bachelor's degree from top universities or institutions to pursue a career in the SAR.

Stressing the necessity for the HKSAR’s workforce to be equipped with new skills to stay competitive in an evolving job market, the labor chief pointed out that the city made significant investment to provide young people with diversified and quality education, allowing them to join different industries according to their interests and abilities.

“To further elevate the status of vocational and professional education and training, we are pressing ahead with the establishment of universities of applied sciences (UAS), providing a pathway to success for young people who aspire to pursue a career in professional skilled sectors,” he said.

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Sun also revealed that the HKSAR will shortly invite top talents to come to the SAR to realize the city’s role as an international hub for high-caliber people and also allow young non-degree talent with professional and technical qualifications to come to the city to join trades facing manpower shortage.