The government said on Wednesday that it would not make it a condition that people who benefit from any publicly funded talent retention measures remain in the city for future career development.

The remark came in a reply to a question by Business and Professionals Alliance lawmaker Jimmy Ng who noted that Hong Kong's workforce shrank by around 140,000 in the past two years.

He asked whether the administration would encourage various industries to introduce talent retention schemes like the Hospital Authority's low-interest home loans for doctors, and if terms could be set to make beneficiaries stay in the SAR.

In a written reply, Labour minister Chris Sun said an evaluation of the effectiveness of the HA's efforts to keep hold of staff could be shared with various government bureaus so that different industries can make use of the information.

Sun added that officials have no plans to set terms to ensure people who benefit from retention schemes remain in the territory.

"Talents trail opportunities, as long as Hong Kong maintains our competitiveness, and provide local talents in particular the young ones with promising prospects and potential, they will choose to stay," he said.

Ng also asked about government efforts to "mend [the] social rift and create a relatively relaxed and tolerant political environment", so that talented Hongkongers don't leave the city.

Sun said in response that Chief Executive John Lee will continue to lead efforts to unite and motivate all sectors of the community, resolve economic and livelihood conflicts, develop a sense of national identity and strengthen communication with the people.