In an effort to attract qualified international professionals to stay and work in Hong Kong, the government has released a list of 11 types of skilled foreign labor that will be given priority to apply to the jobs and live in the city.

The list includes professionals working in the fields of investment management, financial services, law, technology, and creative industries such as game design and music.

Professionals in the specified fields can enter Hong Kong through the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, which allows up to 1,000 people into the territory, even if they don't have a job yet.

Matthew Cheung, Chief Secretary of the Bureau was quoted in media saying, "The [talent list] is one of our major initiatives to enhance our competitive advantages in attracting international talents, creating cluster effects, stimulating the development of local talents and propelling Hong Kong forward."

The list specifies professions in the city’s pillar industries of financial and professional ­services, such as those in investment management, financial ­services, law, and technology. It also includes specialists in waste treatment, naval architects, ship superintendents and those in creative industries such as game design and music.

It is reported that in the three months to July, the city’s unemployment rate stood at 2.8 percent, a two-decade low, while wage growth remained high, pointing to a tight labor market as employers were willing to shell out higher salaries for the right employees.

The 11 most-wanted types of talent:

• Experienced waste treatment specialists/engineers
  
  
• Experienced management professionals in asset management including but not limited to trust fund management
  
  
• Experienced professionals in marine insurance
  
  
• Actuaries
  
  
• Experienced professionals in fintech
  
  
• Experienced data scientists and experienced cybersecurity specialists
  
  
• Innovation and technology experts in fields such as pharmaceutical and life sciences/biotechnology, data engineering and materials science/nanotechnology
  
  
• Naval architects
  
  
• Marine engineers and superintendents of ships
  
  
• Creative industries professionals in music, digital entertainment, game production and film
  
  
• Dispute resolution professionals