ENG-2004 — Page 532

462 | Population and Immigration

There is no sectoral restriction or quota under the scheme. The applicant must possess professional skills or knowledge not readily available or in shortage locally. Apart from professionals in the commercial and financial fields, talented persons and professionals in the arts, culture and sports sectors as well as those in the culinary profession may also apply. The admission of these persons will enhance Hong Kong's status as Asia's world city.

Spouses and unmarried dependent children of persons admitted under the scheme are eligible to apply for entry into Hong Kong as dependants. Persons admitted under the scheme and their dependants may apply for the right of abode after having ordinarily resided in Hong Kong for a continuous period of not less than seven years in accordance with the law. Since the inception of the scheme, a total of 5 095 entry applications have been approved.

Admission of Mainland Student Graduated from University Grants Committee (UGC)-Funded Institutions in Hong Kong

With effect from August 1, 2001, Mainland students who have graduated from UGC-funded institutions since 1990 have been allowed to enter Hong Kong for employment. They should also possess skills or knowledge of value to, but not readily available in Hong Kong. The objective of this arrangement is to attract outstanding Mainland students who have completed full-time studies at the level of a bachelor degree or above to re-enter Hong Kong for employment after graduation, to increase Hong Kong's competitiveness in the knowledge-based global economy. During the year, 157 Mainland students received approval to enter through this channel.

Entry of Dependants

Under existing policy, spouses, unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 and dependent parents aged 60 or above of Hong Kong permanent residents may apply to enter Hong Kong as dependants. In the case of capital investment entrants, persons admitted into Hong Kong to take up employment and those admitted to take up study in full-time undergraduate or post-graduate programmes in local degree-awarding institutions, they may sponsor their spouses and unmarried dependent children under the age of 18 to apply to enter Hong Kong as dependants. Dependants of persons granted entry into Hong Kong to take up employment or study or as capital investment entrants are required to apply for permission from the Director of Immigration before they can take up employment in Hong Kong. Such applications would be considered on the basis of criteria similar to those under the policy governing the entry of foreigners for employment.

Capital Investment Entrant Scheme

The 'Capital Investment Entrant Scheme' was launched in October 2003. The objective of the scheme is to facilitate the entry for residence by capital investment entrants, i.e. persons who make capital investment in Hong Kong but would not, in the context of the scheme, be engaged in the running of any business here. The new capital brought in by the entrants is beneficial to the economic development of Hong Kong. The scheme is generally applicable to foreign nationals, Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) residents, Chinese nationals who have obtained