Experts have welcomed a pilot scheme aimed at facilitating the movement of talent around the Greater Bay Area (GBA), saying it will help consolidate Hong Kong’s status as an international research and innovation centre.

Mainland authorities earlier announced that from February 20, targeted professionals from six sectors currently working in GBA cities can apply for a special visa, which will allow them to make multiple entries to Hong Kong and Macau within a certain period of time.

The visas have a validity period of five years, three years, or one year, and their holders can stay in Hong Kong for not more than 30 days during each visit.

Those eligible include professionals who have made outstanding contributions to the region's development, scientific research experts, arbitrators and mediators, and officially recognised high-level talent in education and medical care.

In a statement released on Thursday, the SAR government said the new arrangement will facilitate professional exchanges and visits.

“Compared with the current seven-day period of stay for the exit endorsement for business visits, the exit endorsement for talents will greatly facilitate eligible high-end talents visiting Hong Kong,” the statement wrote.

“Launching the exit endorsement for talents alongside the full resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the mainland will help promote the interaction of talents within the GBA, creating stronger impetus for growth for Hong Kong and the entire GBA as well as achieving a win-win situation.”

Dennis Lo, Director of CUHK’s Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, said the scheme is conducive to making Hong Kong an international research and innovation centre.

“We would need to invite many researchers to come to Hong Kong to attend meetings and do collaborations. So I think this scheme will definitely make that type of work very easy or relatively easy,” Lo said, adding that authorities should also look into allowing those talent to come to Hong Kong for paid projects.

Oliver Wan, chairman of the Greater Bay Area Hong Kong & Macau Talents Association, also said the scheme will make it easier for top professionals from the mainland to share their experience and expertise with their SAR counterparts.