Bastille's Feature | Talents Express Confidence in Hong Kong’s Future, Cite Transparent Policies

According to World Talent Ranking 2025 released by International Institute for Management Development (IMD) last year, Hong Kong ranks 4th in the world and 1st in Asia. Richard Fung and Tony Zhou, two professionals were admitted to Hong Kong via the Talent Admission Scheme, both expressed their confidence in Hong Kong’s position as global financial hub and the bridge between China and the world.

As Account Delivery Director of DayOne, a Singapore-based data center company, Tony Zhou first came to Hong Kong for business to support project operations. During the business trip, he learned about Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) Category B. In October 2023, he received the permission of TTPS, his wife and son also moved to Hong Kong as accompanying dependants.

Zhou Xichen, currently serving as Service Delivery Director at DayOne Data Center, is originally from Shanghai and was one of the successful applicants who came to Hong Kong through the Top Talent Pass Scheme (Category B). Photo by Bastille Post reporter.

“Living in Hong Kong is completely different from just travelling here,” Tony says. Before applying for TTPS, Tony has seriously discussed with the family about whether building a life in Hong Kong is practical. The main reason of moving to Hong Kong, according to him, is pursuing more diverse and international education for his son.

Zhou Xichen successfully renewed his Top Talent Pass Scheme visa for himself and his family half a year ago. Photo provided by the interviewee.

The biggest obstacle Tony and his family met when they first came to Hong Kong is language. In order to get used to local life, Tony has taken some Cantonese courses. At first, he cannot speak Cantonese at all, and dared not speak it in front of people.

“Now I can speak Cantonese without fearing making mistakes,” Tony says, “actually, I find local people are encouraging toward us Mainlanders learning Cantonese and they have even given me some compliments. ”

Three months before coming to Hong Kong, Tony has strengthened the English training of his son as it is important in Hong Kong schools. His son also took the Startup Course and the Adaptation Course targeting the newly-arrived children organized by Hong Kong Education Bureau. With a certain knowledge of Cantonese and English, his son successfully enrolled into an International school, his wife also found a job here after a period of job hunting.

For future, Tony says that he and his family will apply for Permanent Residence when they meet the requirements. He expresses his appreciation towards the clear application guidelines on Immigration Department website, which can provide him timely feedback and the requirements are very transparent. “I live here longer, my love to Hong Kong goes deeper,” Tony tells the reporter, “now I have more confidence in staying here.”

He actively participates in various activities organized by the Talent Office in Hong Kong. Photo provided by the interviewee.

The Hong Kong Immigration Department recently announces that starting from March 1, 2026, persons approved to come to Hong Kong under various Talent Admission Schemes and their dependents will be able to submit applications for extension of their stay up to three months before their expiration date. Tony says that this change is very friendly and gives more confidence and flexibility to him and his family.

Tony also actively takes part in various activities organized by the Talent Office in Hong Kong to expand his network and help each other integrate into local life. “We talents should not just enjoying the benefits, instead, we should make contributions to Hong Kong,” Tony says.

Richard Fung, General Manager of Venustech Hong Kong, he submitted his first application for for Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) was submitted in January 2024, which received approval in March 2025. Richard says, the first reason of moving to Hong Kong is to help Venustech, a Beijing-based cybersecurity technology company, to expand Hong Kong market.

Richard Fung came to Hong Kong through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme last year. Photo by Bastille Post reporter.

Richard recalls that he tried to prepare all the materials on his own at the very beginning, however, as there are too many materials dating back many years, he has sought assistance from the assistance from a professional agency to finish the application. “The requirements of QMAS are listed on the website, which is very transparent and reasonable,” Richard says. He also appreciates the recent Talent Admission Schemes optimization that can let him make full preparation before the expire date.

“Before working in Hong Kong, I thought local people were indifferent,” Richard talks about his impression about Hong Kong, “but now I find they are very warm-hearted .” He remembers when he came here to expand the market at the beginning, he did not know where to start and knew no one but many people from Inner Mongolia Fellowships Association of Hong Kong, InvestHK, The Hong Kong Chinese Enterprises Association and other organizations offered him help proactively, which enabled Richard overcame the initial loneliness and maladjustment to both private life and work.

InvestHK also provided assistance. Photo provided by the interviewee.

Richard has been actively participating in various activities including charity activities held by local associations since moving to Hong Kong. To overcome language barrier, he keeps learning Cantonese and English, and now he can basically handle the business communication .

When talking about the future, Richard says he and his wife are planning to apply for Hong Kong Permanent Residence is on the plan, which is mainly to pursue a more internationalized education for their unborn child. “I think Hong Kong still has great potential, its position and unique advantages remain unshaken,” says Richard, “Hong Kong offers advanced education and medical treatment.”

The sense of belonging to Hong Kong is gradually growing. Photo provided by the interviewee.

As of the end of February this year, various talent admission schemes have attracted nearly 280,000 talents from different sectors around the world to work and develop in Hong Kong. Among them, Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) has received more than 150,000 applications in the past three years, with nearly 127,000 approved. About 95% of the applicants are from the Mainland China, making it one of the important channels for talent import to Hong Kong.

Chief Executive in Council approves transfer of $150 billion from Exchange Fund to Capital Works Reserve Fund

The Government announced today (April 14) that the Chief Executive in Council has approved, in accordance with Section 8 of the Exchange Fund Ordinance (EFO), that $150 billion will be transferred from the Exchange Fund to the Capital Works Reserve Fund (CWRF) of the Government. This transfer will be made through a designated account under The Financial Secretary Incorporated, with $75 billion per annum credited to the account of the CWRF in 2026-27 and 2027-28 respectively. The Government will implement the relevant arrangement after the passage of the Appropriation Bill 2026 by the Legislative Council.

A Government spokesman said that Section 8 of the EFO sets out the mechanism that empowers the Financial Secretary (FS) to transfer from the Exchange Fund, with the principal condition that the FS is satisfied that such a transfer would not adversely affect the Exchange Fund's main function to maintain the stability of the exchange value of the Hong Kong dollar, as well as the stability and integrity of the local monetary and financial systems.

The Exchange Fund achieved a recordbreaking performance last year, delivering an investment income of $330billion. As at the end of last year, the total value of assets under the Exchange Fund exceeded $4.1trillion, which would suffice to maintain monetary and financial stability in Hong Kong. As such, in the 2026-27 Budget, on the premise that the Exchange Fund's function to maintain the stability and integrity of the local monetary and financial systems will not be compromised, the FS proposed transferring $150 billion from the Exchange Fund to the CWRF of the Government over two years in support of the Northern Metropolis and other infrastructure projects.

The Government spokesman emphasised that the transfer is an exceptional arrangement and not a recurring measure, and all funds will be used for infrastructure projects for long-term investment with a view to accelerating and increasing development capacity rather than for the Government's operating expenditure. The Government has consulted the Exchange Fund Advisory Committee earlier on the proposed transfer and secured its support.

Source: AI-found images