ENG-2012 — Page 418

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Population and Immigration

Capital Investment Entrant Scheme

The Capital Investment Entrant Scheme facilitates the entry of people who invest capital in Hong Kong but do not run a business. The current minimum investment (and net assets/net equity requirement) is $10 million. By the end of 2012, 16,915 applicants had been approved under the scheme, investing a total of $129.8 billion.

Entry for Employment as Professionals

Hong Kong maintains an open and liberal policy towards professionals entering the city for employment, welcoming those with special skills, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong, or who can contribute substantially to the economy. Since 1 July 1997, over 360,000 non-local professionals have been admitted to work in Hong Kong via various admission arrangements.

Employment of Non-local Students

Since May 2008, non-local graduates of a full-time and locally accredited programme at degree level or above may apply to remain in Hong Kong for one year after graduation to take up employment. Returning non-local graduates may also apply to return to Hong Kong for employment provided the job they have secured is at a level commonly taken up by degree- holders and is remunerated at market rates.

Entry of Dependants

Hong Kong permanent residents or residents who are not subject to a limit of stay may sponsor their spouses, unmarried dependent children under 18 and dependent parents aged 60 or above to enter Hong Kong as dependants. Those admitted under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme or the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, or admitted to take up professional employment or to study in full-time undergraduate or post-graduate programmes in local degree-awarding institutions, may also sponsor their spouses and unmarried dependent children under 18 to apply to enter Hong Kong as dependants.

Illegal Immigration

The HKSAR keeps a close watch on illegal immigration: 1,286 Mainland illegal immigrants were arrested during 2012, 21 per cent less than in 2011; 342 Vietnamese illegal immigrants were arrested, or 22 per cent more than in 2011; and 414 non-ethnic Chinese (excluding Vietnamese) illegal immigrants were arrested, 56 per cent more than in 2011.

The Immigration Department maintains close liaison with the Mainland and overseas governments on matters relating to population movements and irregular migration. During 2012, Immigration Department representatives participated in conferences and workshops in Colombia, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand.

Emigration

An estimated 7,600 emigrants left Hong Kong in 2012, the majority to the United States (2,600), Australia (2,200) and Canada (1,000).

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