Talent scheme numbers surpass government target
The Chief Secretary Eric Chan said on Saturday that the number of applications received from talent attraction programmes had already surpassed the government's target, which he said reflected Hong Kong's attractiveness to professionals.  Speaking on a radio programme, Chan said around 160,000 talent scheme applications had been received, and that authorities had already approved around 100,000 of them. He added that tens of thousands of successful applicants had already come to Hong Kong. "Around two-thirds of the applications come from the mainland, and the rest are from foreign countries. We think the situation is ideal," he said.  "Take the Top Talent Pass Scheme for example, applicants must graduate from a university that is ranked in the top 100, so these students must be capable or they wouldn't be able to study there in the first place. We really welcome these talents to Hong Kong." Chan noted that the territory is also full of job opportunities for Hongkongers, with many openings to fill. He said that making Hong Kong an attractive place to live in was key to retaining people.  "Simply speaking, they will stay in Hong Kong if they are happy living here. It's really just a matter of comparison. Can they find a job? Can their job support them? Is their living good in Hong Kong?," he said.  "These are the comparisons they will make with the countries they want to potentially emigrate to." He added that authorities were also working to educate the next generation, such as by introducing innovation and technology elements into the education system, and by providing work opportunities in the Greater Bay Area.