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Expansion of Pilot Scheme on Immigration Facilitation for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors
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     With effect from February 1, the Government will expand the Pilot Scheme on Immigration Facilitation for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors, allowing more non-local talents to participate in specified short-term activities as visitors, without the need to apply for employment visas/entry permits. Following a review, in addition to the existing 10 designated sectors, the Pilot Scheme will be expanded to cover two new sectors, namely "Finance" and "Development and Construction", with the addition of about 50 authorised host organisations.
      
     The Pilot Scheme aims at facilitating business and promoting the development of the relevant sectors, as well as raising Hong Kong's international profile. As of December 2022, the Pilot Scheme benefited over 800 non-local talents, who came to Hong Kong as visitors to participate in various events, such as competing at the Hong Kong Sevens and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performance in Hong Kong. The Government completed a review of the Pilot Scheme at end 2022 and decided to expand the Pilot Scheme to cover two new sectors, namely "Finance" and "Development and Construction", with the addition of more authorised host organisations and specified short-term activities. After expansion, the Pilot Scheme will cover more international events and mega activities, such as the Asian Financial Forum and international horse racing events.

     The expanded Pilot Scheme will cover the following 12 sectors with a total of some 400 authorised host organisations:
      
  • Medical and healthcare;
  • Higher education;
  • Arts and culture;
  • Sports;
  • Heritage;
  • Creative industries;
  • Innovation and technology;
  • The Hong Kong Laureate Forum;
  • Aviation;
  • International/mega events;
  • Finance; and
  • Development and Construction.
 
     Following the progressive, orderly and comprehensive resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, the expansion of the Pilot Scheme is conducive to bringing together talents worldwide for exchanges in Hong Kong, giving full play to Hong Kong's strength as a place to "connect and excel" under "one country, two systems", illustrating to the world that Hong Kong is back on the international stage.
      
     The Government launched the Pilot Scheme in June 2022. Under the Pilot Scheme, host organisations authorised by the relevant government bureaux/departments can issue invitation letters to relevant non-local talents in their sectors. Invited persons may come to Hong Kong to participate in specified short-term activities as visitors, without the need to apply for employment visas/entry permits from the Immigration Department (ImmD). Invited non-local talents are talents in shortage or whose participation in specified short-term activities in Hong Kong is conducive to economic development or achieving relevant policy objectives. They may participate in the specified short-term activities for up to 14 days upon each arrival, and receive remuneration for the specified activities concerned. For more information on the Pilot Scheme, please visit the ImmD's website (www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/stv.html).
 
Ends/Tuesday, January 31, 2023
Issued at HKT 12:00
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