HK leader John Lee vows to 'snatch' global talents by strengthening innovation and tech

Hong Kong’s leader John Lee has promised to attract global talents by strengthening the city’s abilities in innovation and technology. He said he will reveal his thoughts and proposals in the coming Policy Address in October. 

During the Global Innovation and Technology Summit held on 11 August, the Hong Kong chief said participants from recent virtual consultation sessions had called upon the government to help in developing the city’s innovation and technology undertakings, as well as attracting the world’s top talents.

“Bringing together Hong Kong, we need to ‘snatch’ talents. I agree with these views very much, and I will also put forward my ideas and measures in the coming Policy Address in October. I also hope that the academicians and scientific research talents of the two academies participating in today's summit will actively share their insights and help us build a better and more dynamic society for the next generation, and tell the story of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area with us,” Lee said.

Lee also cited the speech of Chinese president Xi Jinping on 1 July, that the innovation and technology industry in Hong Kong is rapidly emerging. “The HKSAR government will definitely live up to its trust, promote in-depth cooperation between cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and open a new chapter for the development of innovation and technology in the Greater Bay Area,” Lee added.

The brain drain issue of the city was described by Lee’s predecessor Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet Ngor as “unarguable” amid COVID-19 restrictions and the ripple effects of the 2019 social unrests.  According to the Census and Statistics Department, the city's population dropped by 121,500, from 7,413,100 in mid-2021 to 7,291,600 in mid-2022. 

Figures also showed that the population decrease between mid-2021 and mid-2022 comprised a natural decrease (such as deaths surpassing births) and a net outflow of Hong Kong residents (such as inflow less than outflow). A natural decrease of 26,500 was recorded during the period, with 35,100 births and 61,600 deaths. Over the same period, a net outflow of 95,000 persons was recorded, with an inflow of 18,300 One-way Permit holders and a net outflow of 113,200 other Hong Kong residents. 

"Net movement includes the movement of Hong Kong residents into and out of Hong Kong for various purposes such as work, study and migration, but the breakdown of figures is not available. Hong Kong residents travelling abroad are not required to declare to the government their purpose of travel. Therefore, the government does not have direct statistics on emigration of Hong Kong residents," a government spokesperson said.

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