Chief Executive John Lee met Minister of Human Resources & Social Security Wang Xiaoping today to exchange views on the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's initiatives in attracting global talent and deepening talent collaboration between the Mainland and Hong Kong.

While welcoming Ms Wang's visit to the city with her delegation to attend the Global Talent Summit Hong Kong and its series of events, Mr Lee said the strategy of trawling for and retaining talent is one of the priorities of the current-term Hong Kong SAR Government.

Apart from pointing out that the summit will be held for two consecutive days starting tomorrow, he said it is being organised by Hong Kong Talent Engage, which was established by the Hong Kong SAR Government last year.

Mr Lee emphasised that it is the first talent-themed international forum and exhibition of the current-term Hong Kong SAR Government, with a view to promoting Hong Kong's dual role and advantages as an international talent hub and the country's gateway for talent.

The Chief Executive noted that the Hong Kong SAR Government has been proactively attracting talent from the Mainland and overseas through different policy measures.

As at the end of last month, 290,000 applications had been received under various talent admission schemes, with about 180,000 of them approved, and over 120,000 talent have arrived in Hong Kong.

Meanwhile, the National Immigration Administration today implemented a number of measures to facilitate the public and enterprises' arrival in Hong Kong, including the extension of the period of stay for holders of an exit endorsement for business visit travelling to Hong Kong, and the expansion of application of the talent exit endorsement to Beijing and Shanghai.

Mr Lee thanked the central government for its support for the policy directions of the Hong Kong SAR Government by introducing various measures in supporting Hong Kong to attract talent.

He stated that these measures will enhance convenience for Mainland business people and traders who travel to Hong Kong and promote exchanges between the business community of the Mainland and Hong Kong.

Additionally, he stressed that the Hong Kong SAR Government will foster talent co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong and promote training and mutual recognition of qualifications of vocational skilled talent.

It will also maintain close liaison with the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Security to further promote the connection and exchanges of talent between the Mainland and Hong Kong, and attract more top-notch talent and enterprises from all over the world to Hong Kong, making greater contributions to the high-quality development of the country, Mr Lee added.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun and Director of the Chief Executive's Office Carol Yip also attended the meeting.