In his first Policy Address, delivered upon taking office in 2022, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee highlighted the "talent rush." The government stated that as of the end of September this year, 240,000 applications had been approved under various talent admission schemes, with approximately 160,000 individuals and their families arriving in Hong Kong in less than two years. Officials, gloating over the achievement, claimed to have exceeded the original target. In his latest Policy Address, John Lee further stated that Hong Kong still faces a talent shortage, emphasizing the continued expansion of overseas talent admissions and the introduction of new programs to attract more young technical professionals.
John Lee and his colleagues are constantly boasting about their progress, content with playing the "Key Performance Indicator" (KPI) numbers game. It's no wonder that international media outlets have dubbed him a "KPI Man." In their quest to meet these targets, officials have lowered the bar and sped up approvals, yet they've never addressed the core question: Why is there a talent shortage in Hong Kong? What kind of talent does Hong Kong really need?
Immigration is the primary reason for talent shortage
Hong Kong's talent shortage began with the CCP's forced implementation of the National Security Law in June 2020, triggering a massive wave of emigration. This is a well-known fact, yet the government has consistently refused to publicly disclose it. A recent media survey revealed that at least 300,000 people have migrated to the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Taiwan over the past few years. Among these emigrants are highly educated and skilled professionals. A British university survey of immigrants holding BNO visas found that 68% of respondents had a university degree or higher, and more than one-third of their jobs in Hong Kong required a qualification. The downward trend in talent loss continues. A survey conducted by a talent consulting firm at the end of last year revealed that over half of respondents from various professional fields, including finance, engineering, healthcare, law, and technology, were considering leaving Hong Kong within the next three to five years.
