Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun pointed out on Friday that Hong Kong remains highly appealing to non-locals, saying the government’s various talent attraction schemes have attracted a larger-than-anticipated number of applications.

Speaking at a recruitment event for mainland talent, Sun stressed Hong Kong prides itself as an established international hub, offering a favourable business environment and a free market economy.

The labour and welfare chief noted that of the various talent attraction schemes that have been rolled out over the past nine months or so, the most popular one was the Top Talent Pass Scheme – a programme designed to entice top-tier professionals and graduates.

"As of the end of September, we have received over 160,000 applications in total, with 100,000 of them already approved," he said.

"Among the approved applicants, around 60,000 of them have already arrived in the city. That greatly exceeds the target set in last year's Policy Address to attract at least 35,000 talented individuals who would stay in Hong Kong for at least 12 months."