Government statistics show that about 95% of applicants approved for Hong Kong’s program to attract top talent in the city were from mainland China.
The Top Talent Pass Scheme received 14,240 applications in the first two months since its launch in December, with 8,797 approved so far.
The program aims to prevent brain drain from Hong Kong, which saw a 2.4% decline in working population last year.
More than half of the successful applicants were aged 18 to 30, while over 30% were aged 31 to 40.
However, the program has drawn scrutiny after Hong Kong granted a work permit to a disgraced Chinese scientist who gene-edited babies, only to revoke it hours later due to “false statements” in his application.
