Source: The Stardand

The Labour and Welfare Bureau has announced the inclusion of nine new professions in the government's Hong Kong Talent List, raising the total to 60. 

This update will take effect on March 1, following the last revision in 2023. The newly added occupations include accountants, financial professionals with Islamic market experience, experienced professionals in commodities trading, experienced systems architects, patent professionals, legal knowledge engineers, ship surveyors, professionals in green shipping, and aircraft maintenance engineers.

Since the last update in May 2023, talent applications have surged from 350 to 1,123 in just two years. 

The bureau said: “In reviewing the Talent List, the government has considered whether talents of the professions concerned are readily available in the local employment market and whether the talents in demand cannot be nurtured by local training in good time.” 

As a result, certain professions such as pilots, speech therapists, and clinical psychologists are not seeking external talent due to the availability of local training.

A spokesman from the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau highlighted the importance of having professionals with relevant cultural backgrounds for the development of Islamic bonds, ensuring compliance with local financial laws. 

Also, the inclusion of accountants addresses a year-on-year decline in candidates for qualification programs reported by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants, with one-third of companies indicating high vacancy rates.

The Talent List of Hong Kong was first established in 2018 to effectively attract high-quality talent and support the city's evolution into a high-value-added and diversified economy.

(Cheng Wong)