LEGCO WORK

Motion on “Following up on measures for new migrant talents to integrate into Hong Kong” (2024.10.24)

Thank you, Deputy President. It is mentioned in the new Policy Address that there would be a projected shortage of 180 000 workers across different sectors in the next five years and a need to reform various talent admission regimes. However, attracting talents from all over the world to come to Hong Kong to fill the manpower gap is only a basic objective. A more important goal is to make these target group of new Hong Kong people eventually make similar decisions as our predecessors, i.e. they are willing to take Hong Kong as their home, have children, integrate into Hong Kong and turn the core values of Hong Kong, including love for the country and love for Hong Kong, friendliness, inclusiveness, courtesy, diligence, eagerness to work rather than complain and pursuit of self-improvement into their own DNA.

In fact, the success of any government policy depends on the joint efforts of the Government, private enterprises and all sectors of the community. In the first stage, the objective is to enable new migrants to settle in Hong Kong as soon as possible and to solve their problems of work, accommodation and education. In the second stage, the objective is to enable their whole family to integrate into Hong Kong. In the first stage, we must work on the implementation details, so that the target persons can feel the sincerity behind the policy and that Hong Kong truly welcomes them to be part of the community. Nowadays, with the advancement of information technology, it is easier to provide the most personalized assistance. The provision of one-stop services in terms of employment, education and accommodation must be what they need most. I believe my Honourable colleagues will have a lot of opinions to share on this today.

In August this year, the Hong Kong Top Talent Services Association and the Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers conducted a questionnaire survey on families of migrant talents bringing their children to Hong Kong, and the results showed that 22% of the respondents were still unemployed at the time. We need to follow up with the applicants promptly to further understand the status of their applications until they have completed all the procedures. Currently, if the applicants need assistance, Hong Kong Talent Engage (“HKTE”) only provides forms for them to fill in. I suggest HKTE to provide real-time communication service through its website, WeChat or other official communication software accounts so that the applicants can receive immediate assistance.

On the education front, the Government and community organizations should work together to strengthen the support for newly arrived students to find suitable schools, and upload all the updated information of this scheme to HKTE’s website, so as to facilitate the applicants to find the information they need on the same website. Currently, HKTE’s website only provides information on the practicalities, but does not provide actual links to the applicants. For example, regarding information on schools in Hong Kong, the Education Bureau has a dedicated website that has consolidated the lists and information of primary and secondary schools and nurseries in all 18 districts in Hong Kong, which is quick and easy to access. However, the link to this website is not provided on HKTE’s website but is available on the websites of the Education Bureau and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Guangdong. It is hoped that we can follow the example of overseas studies centres to provide one-stop education information and study services, including assistance in finding suitable schools, visa application and admission application to ease the hassles and worries of applicant families.

In terms of accommodation, apart from improving hostel facilities as mentioned in this year’s Policy Address, HKTE should continue to collaborate with non-governmental organizations to strengthen community support services and promotions, including the provision of housing information, legal advice on renting accommodation and relocation assistance, so as to help new migrant talents to settle in smoothly. In addition, the Government should continue to encourage community organizations to organize more social and cultural activities, and provide additional living support and other services to help new migrant talents build up their social networks, thereby enhancing their sense of belonging and enabling them to adapt to life in Hong Kong more quickly.

Thank you, Deputy President.

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