ENG-2001 — Page 511

POPULATION AND IMMIGRATION

In the meantime, removal actions against illegal immigrants and overstayers continued to be taken in accordance with the law.

Entry for Employment

Hong Kong maintains an open and liberal policy towards entry for employment. Foreigners who possess special skills, knowledge or experience of value to, and not readily available in, Hong Kong, or who are in a position to make substantial contributions to its economy are welcome to come to work. These people may bring with them spouses and children under 21 years of age and, after seven years of residence, may apply to become Hong Kong permanent residents. During the year, 18 520 professionals and persons with technical, administrative or managerial skills from more than 120 countries were admitted for employment.

Admission of Talents Scheme

The Admission of Talents Scheme was introduced on December 17, 1999. It operates on a quota-free and non-sector specific basis with the objective of admitting talented persons from all over the world, those from the Mainland in particular, into Hong Kong for employment. The scheme is targeted at talented persons with expertise and skills not readily available in, and of value to, Hong Kong. The admission of such persons would enhance the competitiveness of the HKSAR as a manufacturing and services centre, particularly in technology-based, knowledge-intensive and high value- added activities.

The persons admitted may bring in their dependants. They and their dependants would be eligible to apply for right of abode after having resided in Hong Kong for seven years. Since the inception of the scheme, a total of 203 applications have been approved. Most of the successful applicants worked in the information technology/ communication/multimedia technology and engineering sectors.

Admission of Mainland Professionals Scheme

Professionals and talented persons play different but complementary roles that enhance the economic development of Hong Kong. Talented persons focus more on innovation and research whereas professionals help to attend to a firm's immediate requirements. As announced by the Chief Executive in his Policy Address in October 2000, the Government has reviewed the immigration policy on the entry of professionals, and decided to introduce a new Admission of Mainland Professionals Scheme, effective from June 1, 2001. This scheme is sector specific with the objective of attracting qualified Mainland professionals to work in Hong Kong in order to meet local manpower needs and enhance the HKSAR's competitiveness in the globalised market. A candidate for the scheme must be a qualified professional with skills or knowledge of value to Hong Kong but not readily available, or in short supply, locally. Initially, only those engaged in the information technology (IT) and financial services sectors are eligible to apply.

Since the inception of the scheme, a total of 114 applications have been approved 71 for persons engaged in IT and 43 for persons in the financial services sector.

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