Hong Kong Seeks Fintech Talent, DLT Experts

Authorities in Hong Kong have taken steps to attract fintech specialists who can support its economic development. The government of the Chinese region has prepared a list of needed professions from several related fields, including distributed ledger technologies and asset management.

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Hong Kong Updates Immigration Policy to Attract Fintech Professionals

In an announcement published on its website, the government notes that the list highlights specific professions needed most for Hong Kong‘s economic development. Beside waste treatment specialists, engineers and naval architects, the city wants to attract foreigners with expertise related to the crypto and blockchain space. According to the notice, Hong Kong is interested in fintech professionals and innovation and technology experts in fields like distributed ledger technologies (DLT), or blockchain, data engineering, including mining and analytics, artificial intelligence and robotics, cyber security.

Authorities are also eager to invite experienced professionals in asset management, including trust fund management, as well as legal experts specializing in resolving international financial and investor-state disputes and lawyers with knowledge in cross-border transactions from investing or host states. Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Chief Secretary for Administration and Chairman of the Human Resources Planning Commission has been quoted saying:

No Prior Employment Arrangement Required

Detailed information about the scheme is available on the Talent List’s dedicated page and the website of the Immigration Department. Authorities are already accepting applications from eligible individuals with the qualifications included in the list, which has been prepared after consultations between the government and the stakeholders. The document will be updated on a regular basis to reflect the changing needs of Hong Kong’s economy.

The news about the Talent List initiative in Hong Kong comes amid an escalating crackdown on the crypto sector in mainland China. After banning coin offerings and crypto-yuan trading last year, and recently targeting crypto-media and venues hosting events in the space, Chinese regulators have also announced intentions to curb payments to overseas crypto exchanges. Their latest efforts to restrict crypto-related activities involve the big three of the Chinese internet – Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent.

Do you think Hong Kong is attractive to fintech professionals? Share your thoughts on the subject in the comments section below.