John Lee says HK's talent drive is paying off

Chief Executive John Lee has expressed strong confidence in the city’s talent acquisition drive, revealing that more than 290,000 professionals have arrived in the SAR in recent years, easily surpassing the government's target.

In an interview marking his fourth year in office, Lee reflected on the city’s rising international standing, pointing to notable improvements in its global competitiveness rankings as evidence of progress.

"We're doing fairly well, so far so good," he said. "If you look at Hong Kong's competitiveness, it has risen during my term.

"But for talent competitiveness, we've done... I think, a very good result."

The Financial Secretary’s Office announced on Thursday that the city had climbed one spot to become the world’s second-most competitive economy – its highest ranking since 2019.

The SAR also made a significant leap in talent competitiveness, rising 10 spots to secure fourth place globally.

Lee described the global race for skilled workers as a "competitive game", stressing that "everybody is striving to be more competitive".

"Talent is something that if it is on your side, it will help you. If it's on the opposite side, then it will be very much against you," he said.

"It's important to get as many talents as possible to be in the Hong Kong team."

The chief executive said the annual target of attracting 35,000 professionals was set during Hong Kong’s post-pandemic recovery period, which he described as cautious.

"At that time when I set the target, I didn't even think of making leaps to make Hong Kong actually become a high-level competitor because after Covid, at the time when all these targets were set, I was thinking of at least making Hong Kong as strong as before," he said.

"But making Hong Kong as strong as before Covid is not good enough. We have to make it as strong as ever because other people are getting stronger as well."

The 290,000 professionals who have already arrived are estimated to have contributed around 1.2 percent to Hong Kong’s GDP growth, and Lee suggested the real figure could be even higher.

While many of the arrivals are tied to the city’s development as an innovation and technology hub, he noted that traditional sectors such as finance, shipping and trade are also benefiting from the influx.

Lee also said he found that regional leaders and students alike showed strong interest in Hong Kong’s educational offerings during his visits to the Middle East and Central Asia.

"All the country leaders with whom I have met, they've asked for allowing more students from the country to come to Hong Kong," he said.

With five Hong Kong universities ranked among the world’s top 100 and certain programmes achieving global recognition, the city has become an attractive destination for international students, Lee said.

The CE noted that many international students are studying in Hong Kong, many of them willing to pay out of their own pocket.

"That adds to Hong Kong's overall growth in all regards, not just education but other areas such as entertainment and catering because they have to come and they have to spend money.

"And they then remain in Hong Kong to be contributors – as a worker, as a business starter – and they all add to the overall economic gain of Hong Kong."

In a further sign of growing international engagement, Lee revealed that LEAP, a major Middle Eastern technology conference that attracts representatives from more than 180 countries, will host a Hong Kong edition in July.

"We'll continue to strengthen Hong Kong's attraction. That's why Hong Kong is not just a 'super connector', it's a 'super-value adder'," he said.

Looking ahead, Lee said the administration will maintain its proactive recruitment efforts, emphasising that the competitive global landscape leaves little room for complacency.

Edited by Robert Kemp ...