Quality Migrant Admission Scheme

Quality Migrant Admission Scheme
Traditional Chinese	優秀人才入境計劃
Simplified Chinese	优秀人才入境计划
Transcriptions Mandarin - Hanyu Pinyin Yōuxiù Réncái Rùjìng Jìhuà Cantonese (Yue) - Jyutping Jau1 -sau3 Jan4 -coi4 Jap6 -ging2 Gai3 -waak6

The Quality Migrant Admission Scheme ("QMAS") is a points-based immigration system in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.^[1][2] It was first announced in February 2006, and began accepting applications in June of the same year; by May 2008, nearly 500 people had been admitted to residence in Hong Kong under the scheme.^[3][4][5]

Contents 1 History 1.1 Creation 1.2 Relaxation of criteria 2 Requirements 3 Notable examples 4 References 5 External links

History

General points test^[6][7]

Age
Points		Years old
Old	New
0	30	18-24
25	30	25-29
30	30	30-34
25	30	35-39
15	20	40-44
5	15	45-50
N/A	0	51+
Education
Points		Degrees
Old	New
45	45	Two doctorates
40	40	One doctorate or two master's
30	35	One master's or two bachelor's
20	30	One bachelor's
Working experience in a job requiring a bachelor's degree or professional qualification
Points		Years
Old	New	Total	Managerial
50	50	10	>5
40	40	5	>2
30	30	5	0-2
0	10	2	0-2
Languages spoken and written fluently
Points		Languages
Old	New
20	20	Both Chinese and English
0	15	One of Chinese or English, plus an additional language
0	10	One of Chinese or English
Spoken fluency in Chinese may be demonstrated using either Cantonese or Mandarin
Add points for each qualifying item
Points		Description
Old	New
5	5	Per unmarried child under the age of 18, up to 10 points
5	5	Accompanied by a spouse holding at least a bachelor's degree
5	5	Direct family member is a Hong Kong permanent resident

Creation

With the aim of attracting talented people from mainland China and the rest of the world to settle and work in Hong Kong, the QMAS set up admissions criteria under which applicants could be admitted to residence in Hong Kong without the prior offer of local employment required for a normal working visa. The scheme was first announced in February 2006.^[3] It began accepting applications on 28 June of that year, with a quota of 1,000 applicants. The scheme included two methods of assessment: a general points test, under which applicants would be awarded points based on their education, age, working experience, language abilities, and family background, and an achievement-based test for people such as Olympic medalists, Nobel laureates, or scientists and professionals with significant recognition in their field.^[4] The minimum passing mark under the general points test is 80 points.^[8]

Six people applied in the first week; however, the government waited until November 2006 to issue the first visa under the scheme, to pianist Lang Lang.^[9][10] In 2007, 582 people applied under the scheme, of whom 322 (55.3%) were admitted, 42 through the achievement-based points test and 280 through the general points test.^[11][12] 188 came from mainland China.^[13]

Relaxation of criteria

As early as November 2007, the government floated the idea of loosening the criteria for admission under the QMAS, due to the underwhelming response.^[1] Details of the amendments were announced in January 2008; the age limit for applicants was raised from 50 to 55, points would be awarded for as little as two years of working experience as opposed to five before the amendment, and applicants could receive points for abilities in languages other than Chinese or English.^[2][11]

Following the amendment, the number of applicants under the scheme increased slightly; however, the passing rate dropped, according to government sources, with only 60% of short-listed applications approved as of February 2008, compared to 71% before the revision.^[14] By the end of May that year, the number of people admitted under the scheme drew near to 500; however, this still formed only a minute proportion of the roughly 210,000 non-local professionals working in Hong Kong.^[5] In total, for 2008, 1,317 people applied for admission under the scheme, an increase of 130% over the 2007 figure.^[12]

Requirements

1. Age: Applicants must be aged between 18 and 50
2. Financial Requirement: Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they are capable of supporting and accommodating themselves and their dependants, if any, on their own without relying on public assistance during their stay in Hong Kong;
3. Good Character: Applicants must meet normal immigration and security requirements. They should not have any criminal or adverse immigration record in Hong Kong or elsewhere;
4. Language Proficiency: Applicants must be proficient in Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese) or English;
5. Basic Educational Qualification: Applicants must have a good education background, normally a first degree supported by documentary evidence. In special circumstances, good technical qualifications, proven professional abilities and/or experience and achievements supported by documentary evidence may be considered.
6. Nationality: Nationals of Afghanistan, Albania, Cambodia, Cuba, Laos, North Korea, Nepal and Vietnam may not apply under QMAS.^[15]

Notable examples

• Barry Beck, Canadian National Hockey League player^[1]
• Hu Jun, Chinese actor ^[16]
• Lan Rao, Chinese soprano^[17]
• Lang Lang, Chinese pianist^[9]
• Li Yundi, Chinese pianist^[18]
• Li Ning, Chinese gold medalist^[19]
• Tang Wei, Chinese actress^[20]
• Zhang Ziyi, Chinese actress^[21]
• Zhou Mi, Chinese badminton player^[1]
• Zhou Xun, Chinese actress^[12]

References

External links

• Official website (English)