The Immigration Department will recruit 500 staff to meet demand arising from the commissioning of the Shenzhen Bay and Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Points and the airport expansion project.

Reviewing the department's work last year, Director of Immigration Lai Tung-kwok said today that the recruitment drive is needed as the department experienced busy passenger flow last year.

More than 200 million passengers passed through immigration points, up 5.6% on 2005. The total number of visitor arrivals reached 25 million, up 8.1%.

Entrant schemes

Mr Lai said the Advisory Committee on Admission of Quality Migrants & Professionals recently held a second selection exercise. Of the 96 applications tabled for discussion, 66 applicants - 56 under the General Points Test and 10 under the Achievement-based Points Test - will be allocated quotas.

Successful applicants under the General Points Test are mainly from the financial and accounting services, information technology and telecommunications, and commerce and trade sectors. Under the Achievement-based Points Test, successful applicants came from the sport, and arts and culture sectors.

The Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, launched in 2003, has been well received and successfully attracted entrants who are bringing in new capital.

By the end of last year, 1,910 applications had been received. Reported personal assets amounted to an average $25.25 million per applicant.

Investment scheme

Of the 1,910 applicants, 978 had made the requisite investments and their 1,837 dependants were given formal approval to reside in Hong Kong. These entrants with formal approval have invested $6.99 billion in permissible investment assets, an average of $7.15 million per entrant, which exceeded the requisite investment by 10%.

Last year 380 applicants were given formal approval, up 24% on 2005. Another 205 applicants were given approval-in-principle to enter Hong Kong to procure the required investments.

Mr Lai said the department has been very concerned about non-Hong Kong residents obtaining stay by means of bogus marriages. Between April and December last year, 15 Mainlanders and eight Hong Kong residents were jailed for offences relating to bogus marriage.