Mainland Chinese professionals have been going online since the start of the year to talk about ways to remain in Hong Kong’s top talent scheme even without having jobs of their choice.
On Xiaohongshu, the popular Instagram-like social media platform, some said it was easy to apply for the city’s Top Talent Pass Scheme, but hard to find jobs that matched their qualifications or experience.
Many ended up becoming licensed insurance agents. With the sector doing well in the city compared with other parts of the economy, some found the job paid well enough.
Those in the online discussion agreed that selling insurance was the easiest way to remain in the city, as the earliest applicants under the scheme had to renew their visas.
Introduced in December 2022, it offered successful applicants a two-year visa which could be extended if they found jobs or set up a business in the city.
In a recent investigation, it was found that many individuals who entered Hong Kong through the Top Talent Pass Scheme have resorted to selling insurance as a means to secure their visas. Mainland Chinese professionals have turned to social media platforms to discuss strategies for staying in Hong Kong without necessarily finding jobs aligned with their expertise. Selling insurance has become a lucrative option, considering the thriving nature of the sector in Hong Kong. Critics have raised concerns about whether the scheme was intended to attract insurance agents or highly skilled professionals. This raises questions about the effectiveness and purpose of the program, which was launched to attract top talent to the city. Introduced in December 2022, the scheme initially offered successful applicants a two-year visa, with the opportunity for extension upon finding suitable employment or establishing a business in Hong Kong.
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