The government on Tuesday evening announced that applicants for a talent admission scheme will have to declare their criminal record after a scientist who was previously jailed on mainland was granted approval to move to Hong Kong.

Starting from Wednesday, applicants will have to make the declaration in their online application under the SAR's Top Talent Pass Scheme.

The Immigration Department will request people who have already submitted their applications to supplement the relevant information, if their applications are still being processed.

There's no mention of what the government would do with applications that have been approved.

Writing on Facebook, labour minister Chris Sun said the government attached importance to people's concerns surrounding the scheme.

He said applicants would face legal consequences if they make false declarations.

Sun added that the government would look at the scheme's operation and review accordingly.

Mainland biophysicist He Jiankui was jailed for three years in 2019 for illegal medical practice linked to gene editing in babies.

Speaking to reporters in Beijing earlier on Tuesday, He said he plans to carry out scientific and genetic research after arriving in Hong Kong. The biophysicist also said he has been exploring opportunities with universities and scientific research firms in the SAR.