The Government today announced that the Pilot Scheme on Immigration Facilitation for Visitors Participating in Short-term Activities in Designated Sectors will be expanded from tomorrow to cover two new sectors and include about 50 additional authorised host organisations.

Launched in June 2022, the scheme aims to facilitate business, promote the development of relevant sectors and raise Hong Kong's international profile.

Under the scheme, host organisations authorised by relevant government bureaus or departments can issue invitation letters to non-local talent in their sectors. The invitees may come to Hong Kong to participate in specified short-term activities as visitors without the need to apply for employment visas or entry permits from the Immigration Department.

The invitees are talent in shortage or whose participation in specified short-term activities in Hong Kong is conducive to economic development or achieving relevant policy objectives. They may participate in such activities for up to 14 days upon each arrival and receive remuneration for the activities concerned.

As of December 2022, the scheme has benefited more than 800 non-local talent who came to Hong Kong as visitors to take part in various events, such as the Hong Kong Sevens and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra performance.

The Government said it decided to expand the scheme after completing a review at end-2022. Aside from the existing 10 designated sectors, the finance and development and construction sectors will also be covered, with the addition of more authorised host organisations and specified short-term activities.

After the expansion, the scheme will cover a total of 12 sectors involving some 400 authorised host organisations. Such sectors are medical and healthcare, higher education, arts and culture, sports, heritage, creative industries, innovation and technology, the Hong Kong Laureate Forum, aviation, international or mega events, finance as well as development and construction.

More international events and mega activities, including the Asian Financial Forum and international horse racing events, will also be covered.

The Government pointed out that following the progressive, orderly and comprehensive resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, the expansion of the scheme is conducive to bringing together talent worldwide for exchanges in Hong Kong, giving full play to the city's strength as a place to connect and excel under "one country, two systems" and illustrating to the world that Hong Kong is back on the international stage.