Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu speaks to the media ahead of an Executive Council meeting on July 11, 2023. (PHOTO / HKSAR GOVERNMENT)

HONG KONG – Hong Kong is determined to keep the momentum in its drive to attract the world’s top talents as over 100,000 have so far applied to relocate to the city, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said Tuesday.

Speaking ahead of the weekly Executive Council meeting, Lee said he expected 60 percent of the applications to be approved and the government would look into the overall shortage of workers to fulfill the needs of different sectors.

Hong Kong launched in December the Top Talent Pass Scheme to attract talents who earned HK$2.5 million ($319,500) or more in the past year and graduates from the world’s top universities to explore opportunities in the city.

“I'm very glad to inform everybody that within six months, there have been already over 100,000 applications,” Lee said.  “Based on the previous record, roughly about, I think, 60 percent of the applications will be approved, and this trend continues.”

I'm very glad to inform everybody that within six months, there have been already over 100,000 applications ... Based on the previous record, roughly about, I think, 60 percent of the applications will be approved, and this trend continues.

John Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive

He said it was a “very natural phenomenon” in Hong Kong’s history as an international city and free port for people to come and go.

“I have repeatedly said that we have lost over 200,000 in the past three years of people who have moved out of Hong Kong, even though we have also people moving in,” Lee said.

Besides addressing the labor crunch, Lee said the new talents can also make Hong Kong stronger and boost its competitiveness. 

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He said the government was working on how to maintain the momentum and was determined to develop Hong Kong’s status as a key center in eight different fields.

Lee also said that the worst was already over in the decline in the population of primary and secondary school students in the city. He said the drop was a “structural problem” and the government was addressing it.

“We have always seen people come and go and this trend will continue,” Lee said. “The worst situation has already passed.”

He said the low birth rate in Hong Kong was one of the reasons for the drop in the student population and the government would continue to formulate policies to tackle the issue.

In this file photo dated Sept 1, 2022, students return to campuses in Tseung Kwan O as new academic year begins. (CALVIN NG / CHINA DAILY)

“We will see what incentives we can adopt to boost the birth rate and ensure a sustainable development in Hong Kong,” the CE said.

The government would also consider family-friendly measures to help maintain social harmony, he said, adding that the government would utilize school resources depending on the situation.

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Asked about the suspension of the Man Kam To Control Point due to subsidence, Lee said the government was very concerned with the situation, stressing that the importation of food would not be affected and northbound drivers could use other checkpoints

Subsidence in Man Kam To Control Point

Asked about the suspension of the Man Kam To Control Point due to subsidence, Lee said the government was very concerned with the situation, stressing that the importation of food would not be affected and northbound drivers could use other checkpoints.

“We want to fix the problems in Man Kam To … as the traffic to the mainland is very important,” he said, adding that the relevant repair works took about at least one month.

“The government will keep in touch with the mainland authorities and announce the latest details to members of the public,” he said.

Eight fugitives for threatening national security

Asked if the government would increase the bounty for the eight fugitives abroad, Lee said the government would exhaust all means to arrest them.

The government would also step up efforts in investigating and holding accountable all those forces behind them, he added.

READ MORE: Officials back warrants for HK fugitives abroad

Falling concrete chunks

In response to the recent incidents involving falling concrete chunks, Lee stressed that the government would enforce and continue its mandatory building inspection program, adding that  both the government and property owners have a role to play.

The government would conduct the supervision and provide subsidy and the building owners needed to ensure the safety of their property, he added.