Focus on retaining and attracting top talent

In recent years, there has been an emphasis on retaining and attracting top talent in and to Hong Kong SAR. There has also been a drive to advance technology within the region. Considering this, new visa categories such as the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) and the Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS) have been established.

In the chief executive's 2025 policy address, which was delivered on 17 September 2025, the Hong Kong SAR government announced that it will continue to implement talent policies to ensure Hong Kong’s long-term competitiveness to drive sustained economic growth.

1. From 1 January 2026, the list of eligible universities under the TTPS has been expanded to 200 institutions to include more top-tier global talent.Over 230,000 people have come to Hong Kong for work and development since the implementation of new talent admission policies.According to the International Institute for Management Development’s World Talent Ranking 2025, Hong Kong's position in global talent rankings has shown consistent improvement, advancing 12 spots over the past two years to reach fourth place worldwide and securing first place within the Asia Pacific region.
2. Revisions to Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES): Effective 17 September 2025, the residential property investment threshold was reduced from HKD 50 million to HKD 30 million per single residential property. Additionally, the aggregate cap for all real estate counting toward the minimum CIES investment threshold increased from HKD 10 million to HKD 15 million (despite the increased overall cap, the cap on residential real estate remains unchanged at HKD 10 million).