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The Government today (February 23) announced the detailed operation of the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), which is aimed at attracting talented people from the Mainland and overseas to settle in Hong Kong.
The scheme was first announced in the 2005 Policy Address and the Financial Secretary, Mr Henry Tang, announced yesterday (February 22) that the scheme would be introduced in the first half of this year.
Announcing details of the new scheme at a press conference, the Secretary for Security, Mr Ambrose S K Lee, said the new scheme would be launched by June this year to attract quality personnel from all over the world. "We are targeting at people that Hong Kong needs and will help our long-term development," Mr Lee said.
"An initial annual quota of 1,000 is set. Applicants are required to fulfil a set of 'must-meet' requirements before they may apply under the scheme.
"A non-statutory Selection Committee will be appointed by the Chief Executive to advise the Director of Immigration on quota allocation and other aspects of the scheme," Mr Lee added.
QMAS immigrants may be permitted to bring in their dependants (i.e. spouse and unmarried dependent children under 18 years of age) provided that they are capable of supporting and accommodating their dependants on their own without relying on public assistance in Hong Kong.
Mr Lee said dependants of QMAS immigrants would be allowed to work without prior permission from the Director of Immigration.
From July, 2003, dependants of persons admitted into Hong Kong for professional employment or as capital investment entrants are not allowed to work unless they have the permission from the Director of Immigration. With the improving economic conditions and employment situation, it has been decided to remove this restriction to enhance Hong Kong's edge in attracting professionals. In other words, dependants of persons admitted for professional employment or as capital investment entrants will not be required to obtain prior permission from the Director of Immigration for taking up employment, just as the situation was before July, 2003. Applying the revised conditions of stay to such dependants would entail some preparation work. The details, including the effective date, will be announced separately.
On the details of the new scheme, the Director of Immigration, Mr Lai Tung-kwok, elaborated at the press conference that the "must-meet" requirements were:
(a) Age: Applicants must be aged between 18 and 50 when lodging an application under QMAS;
(b) Financial Requirement: Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are capable of supporting and accommodating themselves and their dependants, if any, on their own without relying on public assistance during their stay in Hong Kong;
(c) Good Character: Applicants must meet normal immigration and security requirements. They should not have any criminal or adverse immigration record in Hong Kong and elsewhere;
(d) Language Proficiency: Applicants must be proficient in Chinese (Putonghua or Cantonese) or English;
(e) Basic Educational Qualification: Applicants must have a good education background, normally a first degree supported by documentary evidence. In special circumstances, good technical qualifications, proven professional abilities and/or experience and achievements supported by documentary evidence may be considered.
Mr Lai said the competitive selection process comprised two phases. "During phase one, applicants will be assessed based on a points test which incorporates factors such as age, academic/professional qualifications, working experience, language proficiency, family connections in Hong Kong, spouse's achievement, number of dependent children, achievement in a particular field, etc. A minimum passing mark will be set. Interested parties are advised to assess whether their credentials are adequate to meet the passing mark before they submit an application," he said.
"Having met the 'must-meet' requirements and the minimum passing mark, applicants will be ranked according to the scores they are awarded. High scoring applicants will be shortlisted to enter a selection pool for further comparison. Quota will be granted to the most meritorious applicants."
Under the new scheme, QMAS immigrants will be allowed an initial stay of one year. At the end of the first 12-month period, the QMAS immigrants should be able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Director of Immigration that they had taken steps to settle in Hong Kong by taking up residence here, e.g. by securing gainful employment or establishing a business. If the QMAS immigrant cannot demonstrate the taking of any such steps, a one-year extension may be granted by the director if he deems this appropriate.
If the person is still not able to demonstrate the taking of the steps required by the end of the first 24 months, further extensions of stay will normally not be given. At the end of the first 36 months, the QMAS immigrants must be able to demonstrate to the director's satisfaction that they had settled in Hong Kong and were making contribution to Hong Kong such as by having obtained gainful employment in a graduate/specialist/senior level job, or by having established a business of a reasonable size here.
Mr Lee emphasised that Hong Kong was looking for top-notch talent from all over the world. "Our target is people who have both an established track record and potential to develop from all over the world including those from the Mainland.
"The new scheme will facilitate local economic development which would in turn create more jobs for the local population. It will also enhance Hong Kong's competitiveness in the global market and improve the quality of our population.
"We will review the scheme one year after its operation and decide whether it should continue and whether it should be suitably improved," Mr Lee said.
Ends/Thursday, February 23, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:23
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