Hong Kong's Talent List and the race for AI specialists

Context

Hong Kong has used a series of schemes to attract talent since its population fell during the pandemic years. The Top Talent Pass Scheme, launched at the end of 2022, has drawn large numbers of high earners and graduates of leading universities. Long-standing employment-linked schemes, such as the General Employment Policy (GEP) and the Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (ASMTP), remain the main routes for employers bringing in specific skills.

The Talent List, first published in 2018, is a tool that sits across these schemes. It identifies professions where Hong Kong faces shortages, and gives applicants in those professions an easier path. Under the GEP and ASMTP, employers recruiting for a listed profession are exempt from the market availability test, so they do not need to prove that they could not find a suitable local candidate. Under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), applicants who meet the list's requirements receive priority.

The list was last updated in March 2025, when nine professions linked to Hong Kong's "eight centres" development strategy were added, bringing the total to 60.

What has been reported

On 9 September 2026, a week before the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address, DotDotNews reported that the government will update the Talent List to attract talent needed for AI, with completion expected in the first half of 2027.

According to the report, the list already covers experienced AI specialists and legal knowledge engineers. The government is considering adding AI-related qualifications to the requirements of existing professions on the list, as well as adding new AI-related professions. It will continue to apply the principles used since 2018: listed professions should cover high-quality talent that supports high value-added and diversified development; such talent cannot easily be found in the local market; and it cannot be trained locally in a timely way.

Sin Hang-dik, a deputy to the National People's Congress and chairman of the Internet Professional Association, told the outlet that past schemes such as the Top Talent Pass had attracted many broadly qualified high earners, but specialists in frontier research, large model development, computing architecture and industrial deployment remain extremely scarce. Legislative Council member Duncan Chiu, representing the technology and innovation sector, welcomed the move but said Hong Kong also needs patient capital, supportive policies and investment in training local talent.

Why it matters

AI is reshaping work in finance, law, healthcare and logistics, the sectors at the core of Hong Kong's economy. Demand for people who can build, deploy and govern AI systems is intense worldwide, and competition for them is fierce in Singapore, the mainland, the Gulf and the West.

The Talent List is a targeted instrument. Unlike broad schemes that admit people based on income or university ranking, it directs attention to specific skills that employers struggle to find. Adding AI qualifications to existing professions could also matter: a compliance officer or actuary with AI expertise may be exactly what a bank or insurer needs.

Timing matters too. With the update expected in the first half of 2027, employers recruiting AI specialists in the coming months will still be working with the current list. Some AI roles may already fit existing entries, such as the experienced AI specialist category, so it is worth checking the current requirements rather than simply waiting for the revision.

Implications for investors, families and businesses

For employers, particularly in financial services, technology and professional services, the update could shorten hiring timelines for AI roles. It is worth mapping which current or planned roles might fall within the revised list.

For professionals considering Hong Kong, the list signals where demand is strongest. Those with AI skills may find stronger support through employer-sponsored routes or QMAS once the update is published.

For families relocating to Hong Kong, talent schemes are one of several routes, alongside the New Capital Investment Entrant Scheme for those with significant investable assets. The right route depends on the family's goals, assets and the main applicant's career.

For investors, a deeper AI talent pool supports Hong Kong's ambitions in AI-enabled finance and healthcare, and the start-up ecosystem around them.

Questions to consider

• Which AI-related roles do we expect to hire for in the next two years, and can we find them locally?
• Would our roles qualify under the existing Talent List, or should we wait for the update?
• How do we compare Hong Kong with other centres competing for the same talent?
• For individuals, is an employer-sponsored route, QMAS or another scheme the best fit?
• What training could we provide to build AI skills within our existing teams?

Closing

The reported update is a sensible, focused step. Hong Kong cannot win the global contest for AI talent through immigration policy alone, but a well-designed Talent List can lower friction for the specialists who matter most. The upcoming Policy Address may give more detail on the government's plans.