Hong Kong’s Short-Term Activities in Designated Sectors (STV) Scheme—an outgrowth of a 2022 pilot for mega-events—will welcome the Social Welfare sector on 1 October. Organisers ranging from NGOs to think-tanks can now invite foreign practitioners for up to 14 days without requiring employment visas, provided the activity is authorised by the relevant bureau. Finance, higher-education and international-events categories also gain more approved organisations and eligible activities. The STV Scheme has already brought more than 56 000 overseas specialists to 9 500 activities, including the Hong Kong Sevens and Asian Financial Forum. By adding social services, the Government hopes to expose local NGOs to global best practice in elderly care, mental-health outreach and inclusive technologies—areas flagged as manpower shortfalls in the city’s Policy Address. Authorised hosts can pay participants for their services during the two-week window, making the scheme attractive for keynote speakers, trainers and visiting consultants who would otherwise face slower General Employment Policy processing. The Immigration Department will publish an updated list of nearly 500 eligible organisations next week. Businesses planning corporate social-responsibility projects, universities running community clinics and conference organisers should review whether their events now qualify. While the 14-day limit remains, visitors may re-enter for subsequent short stints, creating flexibility for phased projects or recurring workshops. Immigration lawyers note the STV continues to prohibit activities that could displace local workers; employers must certify the temporary, knowledge-transfer nature of each engagement and maintain payroll records for inspection.
Source: HKSAR Government Press Release
