Hong Kong’s Chief Executive John Lee used an anniversary interview with RTHK on 19 June 2026 to trumpet the early results of the city’s aggressive post-pandemic talent-attraction campaign. According to Lee, more than 290,000 foreign and mainland professionals have already been approved to live and work in Hong Kong since late 2022, comfortably beating the administration’s original annual goal of 35,000 arrivals. Lee framed the influx as a competitive advantage in what he called the global "talent game." He noted that Hong Kong has climbed to second place in the latest World Competitiveness Ranking and jumped 10 places to fourth in the IMD World Talent Ranking, saying the figures prove that the city is regaining its pre-Covid momentum while moving “from super-connector to super value-adder.” The biggest beneficiaries so far are innovation and technology start-ups clustered around Cyberport and Science Park, but Lee emphasised that traditional pillars such as finance, shipping and logistics are also hiring aggressively. Government economists estimate the new arrivals have already lifted GDP by about 1.2 percent, with further upside expected as families settle and spend locally. Demand is also pouring in from overseas universities and Middle-Eastern governments keen to place students in Hong Kong’s English-language programmes. Lee revealed that LEAP, one of the world’s largest technology conferences, will stage a Hong Kong edition in July 2026 to showcase the city’s visa pathways—including the Top Talent Pass Scheme, the expanded Quality Migrant Admission Scheme and the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme relaunch.
For would-be applicants seeking to navigate these schemes smoothly, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) provides step-by-step guidance, real-time requirement updates and digital filing tools that save both newcomers and HR departments valuable time.
For employers, the message is two-fold: application backlogs have shortened dramatically thanks to digital filing and parallel processing, but competition for housing and international schooling remains fierce. HR directors are therefore advised to budget higher relocation allowances and book orientation services early, especially for families arriving in the next academic intake. Immigration lawyers expect the government to publish further refinements—such as multi-year open work permits for spouses—before the Chief Executive’s Policy Address in October.
For would-be applicants seeking to navigate these schemes smoothly, VisaHQ’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) provides step-by-step guidance, real-time requirement updates and digital filing tools that save both newcomers and HR departments valuable time.
For employers, the message is two-fold: application backlogs have shortened dramatically thanks to digital filing and parallel processing, but competition for housing and international schooling remains fierce. HR directors are therefore advised to budget higher relocation allowances and book orientation services early, especially for families arriving in the next academic intake. Immigration lawyers expect the government to publish further refinements—such as multi-year open work permits for spouses—before the Chief Executive’s Policy Address in October.
