The Government will roll out a Pilot Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS) for three years. In order to meet the needs of the innovation and technology (I&T) sector in getting talented staff, the scheme provides a fast-track arrangement for eligible technology companies/institutes to admit overseas and Mainland research and development talent.

As a start, the TechTAS will be open to tenants and incubatees of the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTPC) and Cyberport that are engaged in the areas of biotechnology, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, robotics, data analytics, financial technologies and material science. Each technology company and institute that is successful in its application will be given an admission quota of not more than 100 persons a year for bringing in such people, and a maximum of 1,000 persons will be admitted in the first year of operation.

The Innovation and Technology Commission will decide whether to approve a quota request after taking into account recommendations from the HKSTPC/Cyberport. It is aimed to complete the processing within two weeks, if the applicant technology company or institute provides all of the information required. Successful applicant companies being identified as a candidate fitting the requirements in the allotted quota (including the main job duties, academic qualifications, technical skills, work experience and the remuneration package) can then apply directly to the Immigration Department to sponsor the employment visa or entry permit application of the non-local recruit. Subject to satisfactory documentation, the normal processing time for issuing the visa or entry permit would be about two weeks.

The Secretary for Innovation and Technology, Mr Nicholas Yang, said, "Talent is a key success factor in the global innovation race. Hong Kong must adopt policies to assist the industry in securing the professionals needed. Pooling together technology experts is indeed one of the eight major areas announced by the Chief Executive in the Policy Address to drive Hong Kong's I&T development. The TechTAS is designed to substantively streamline the admission procedure and shorten the processing time. It will effectively help technology companies and institutes in recruiting technology talent that is in short supply locally, from overseas and the Mainland, which is of critical importance in the development of I&T".

The TechTAS will also help nurture local talent. It requires applicant technology companies and institutes to employ one new local full-time employee plus two local interns engaging in technology-related work for every three non-local persons admitted.

The persons admitted under the TechTAS should be degree holders in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) from a well-recognised university. Work experience is not compulsory for those with a master's or doctoral degree, while those with a bachelor's degree only should possess a minimum of one year of work experience in the relevant technology area.

Briefings on the TechTAS will be arranged for tenants and incubatees of the HKSTPC and Cyberport between late May and mid-June and it is targeted to invite applications in June 2018. Please click here for more details about the scheme.