Hong Kong extends visa-free short-term entry scheme for non-local professionals
Inclusion of five more sectors brings total to 17 under the scheme, as city works to strengthen its role as a global ‘superconnector’
Hong Kong will extend visa-free short-term entry to professionals in another five sectors from Saturday, allowing more non-local talent to work temporarily without a permit as part of efforts to strengthen the city’s role as a “superconnector”.
The government said on Friday that the expansion of the “immigration facilitation scheme” would cover the environment, occupational safety and health, maritime, think tank and “other” sectors. The additions will bring the total number of covered sectors to 17 since the scheme’s launch in June 2022.
“[It] enables more talent to visit Hong Kong for exchanges, giving full play to Hong Kong’s strength as a ‘superconnector’ under the ‘one country, two systems’ framework,” the government said.
It said the scheme had benefited more than 38,000 non-local professionals, enabling them to enter Hong Kong as visitors to take part in various short-term activities.
These activities had included the International Lunar New Year Night Parade, the Asian Financial Forum, the Hong Kong Sevens rugby competition, the Hong Kong Performing Arts Expo and other major events, it said.
Following a review, the government said it decided to further expand the short-term activities scheme to cover the five new sectors.