Financial Secretary Paul Chan said on Sunday that university students he met during a trip last week to Malaysia and Singapore are very interested in Hong Kong's schemes to attract talent.

Chan spent several days in the Southeast Asian countries last week and visited the University of Malaya and Singapore National University.

He noted that graduates of the two leading universities are now eligible to come to Hong Kong even before they secure a job under the administration's Top Talent Pass Scheme.

"During the close encounter, I can feel that the new policy has made them consider coming to Hong Kong to develop their careers more seriously," Chan wrote on his weekly blog.

The minister said the Singaporeans of Chinese descent told him that they grew up watching Hong Kong movies and listening to Hong Kong pop songs.

Chan added that as the global economic focus shifts from the West to the East, healthy competition between China and developing Asian economies can bring out the potential of both places, allowing them to make greater contributions to the world.

He said while some may fear the adverse effects of more stringent competition, the actual effect would be to "grow the pie", meaning a bigger economy and benefits to eveyone.

He said a sense of urgency would mean different economies would keep getting more competitive.

Chan's visits also included meetings with officials and business leaders from sectors including technology, private equity and family offices.