LCQ16: Measures to facilitate entry of performing groups into Hong Kong
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Question:
As announced by the Government, with effective from February 26 this year, a new application fee of $600 has been introduced for various admission schemes for talents and capital investors (specified admission schemes), and the visa/entry permit issuance fees have been raised to $600 (with a limit of stay of 180 days or below) and $1,300 (with a limit of stay of 181 days or more) respectively. There are views relaying that the aforesaid visa fees have put heavy financial pressure on performing groups coming from other places to Hong Kong and relying on donations to maintain their operation (e.g. Shengong opera troupes performing at the Yu Lan Festival), thus affecting the transmission and exchange of traditional cultures. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the number of Chinese Mainland traditional folklore performing groups (including Shengong opera troupes) admitted to Hong Kong under the specified admission schemes in each of the past three years, as well as their members involved (set out in a table);
(2) as it is learnt that quite a number of district organisations will invite Chinese Mainland performing groups to perform in Hong Kong during celebration events to promote cultural exchanges, whether the Government will consider waiving visa application and issuance fees or introducing a tiered fee system for members of those performing groups which do not charge the public for their performances, so as to encourage cultural exchanges in the community and promote the transmission of cultural heritage;
(3) of the number of Chinese Mainland performing groups permitted under the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (the STV Scheme) to participate in specified short-term activities in the arts and cultural sector during their stay as visitors since the regularisation of the scheme in 2024; and
(4) as there are views pointing out that although there is strong demand from district organisations for performances by traditional folklore performing groups, the visits of performing groups to Hong Kong via the STV Scheme are subject to the endorsement of the authorised host organisations (e.g. the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau) by way of invitation letters, which involves some difficulties in the process, whether the Government will consider further streamlining the relevant application procedures to enable more performing groups to come to Hong Kong for exchanges without having to apply for employment visas?
Reply:
President,
In consultation with the Security Bureau, the Labour and Welfare Bureau and the Immigration Department (ImmD), the reply to the question raised by Dr the Hon Chan Han-pan is as follows:
(1) Eligible Mainland residents who possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong may apply to come to work in Hong Kong under the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP) (the "specified admission scheme" as referred to in the question), including short-term or one-off project-based employment, if the conditions are met. In 2022, 2023, and 2024, the numbers of approved applications under the ASMTP related to the Mainland talents of the arts/culture sector were 285, 2 496 and 4 618 respectively. The ImmD does not maintain a breakdown of the statistics on applications involving traditional folk performing groups from the Mainland (including Shengong opera troupes).
(2) to (4) In devising the fee levels for the ASMTP, the Government has balanced various considerations. Among others, noting that some applications relate to short-term/one-off project-based employment, the Government has introduced two tiers of visa/entry permit issuance fee: $600 for visa/entry permit granted with a limit of stay of not more than 180 days, and $1,300 for those with a limit of stay of 181 days or more. The fee levels are modest and affordable. The Government will closely monitor the relevant situation and review the fee structure as appropriate in accordance with the established mechanism.
Besides, to encourage more talents to come to Hong Kong for exchanges, the Government launched a two-year Pilot Scheme on Immigration Facilitation for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (Pilot Scheme) in June 2022, which was regularised as the Immigration Facilitation Scheme for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors (STV Scheme) in June 2024. Under the STV Scheme, organisations authorised by the relevant government bureaux/departments (B/Ds) 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 ImmD. They may participate in specified short-term activities for up to 14 consecutive calendar days during each trip to Hong Kong, and receive remuneration for the specified activities concerned.
As of end-June 2025, the Pilot Scheme and the STV Scheme have approved for a total of more than 36 950 non-local talents to enter Hong Kong as visitors to participate in a total of over 6 200 short-term activities and major events. Among others, since the regularisation of the scheme in June 2024, a total of more than 1 520 non-local talents have been approved to participate in the specified short-term activities under the "Arts and Cultural" sector. The ImmD does not maintain statistics of Mainland performing groups entering Hong Kong under the STV Scheme as mentioned in the question.
To ensure that the STV Scheme keeps pace with the times, the Government reviews its coverage and operation mechanism from time to time, with a view to ensuring that it can continue to effectively promote the development of relevant sectors and raise Hong Kong's international profile while ensuring that the risks are manageable. Since the launch of the Pilot Scheme, the Government has expanded the scheme in February 2023 and June 2024, by adding two sectors, namely "Finance" and "Development and Construction", to the original 10 designated sectors. The number of authorised organisations has also increased by 18 per cent from around 350 when the scheme was first launched, to more than 400 at present. These authorised organisations include government B/Ds, public/statutory organisations, professional bodies and industry associations. Through an established mechanism, all participating B/Ds are required to assist in ensuring that the implementation of the scheme consistently meets policy objectives. Relevant information of the STV Scheme, including the authorised organisations and specified short-term activities that are currently covered by the scheme, is available on the ImmD's website: www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/stv.html.
The Government will continue to closely monitor the implementation of the STV Scheme as well as the views of the relevant departments and the sectors concerned, and timely review the scheme's coverage to strike an appropriate balance between immigration control and facilitation. In considering whether to further relax the STV Scheme, the Government shall take into account two major principles, i.e. eligible individuals visiting Hong Kong for specified short-term activities under the scheme will not displace the local workforce, and there will not be a risk of abuse (including illegal employment).
Ends/Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Issued at HKT 12:10
Issued at HKT 12:10
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