Talent authorities signal policy shift with bonus points for Hengqin professionals

[Photo: Yuki Lei]

Fresh from processing 2,100 applications and approving some 900 candidates over three intake rounds, Macau’s talent authorities have signaled a policy shift, revealing yesterday that they are examining the possibility of adding preferential bonus points for outstanding professionals from the Guangdong-Macao In-Depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin during the next phase of the scheme.

The talent introduction regime mandates a quadrennial review, and the upcoming assessment is scheduled for next year, marking the program’s fourth year of operation.

The Talent Development Committee held its first regular plenary meeting of 2026 yesterday, with Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai in attendance.

During the session, Sam proposed that the talent introduction program, tailored to Macau’s evolving talent needs, would continue to focus on attracting international professionals across the “1+4” key industries while stepping up collaboration with the Hengqin cooperation zone on talent-related initiatives.

He indicated that talents recognized by the zone would be eligible for bonus points under Macau’s talent assessment framework, and noted that educational platforms and higher education resources in both Macau and Hengqin could help strengthen the alignment between academic disciplines and talent development, supporting the growth of local talent while drawing in globally minded professionals.

Sam also revealed that the government had already established cross-departmental coordination mechanisms, including a Talent Promotion and Expansion Group and a Talent Service Working Group. The latter will provide on-the-ground support to approved talent arrivals, assisting with company registration, business setup, and partnerships with local institutions.

Notably, the government set up a cross-ministerial task force last month, encompassing portfolios such as talent, security, legal affairs, investment, technology, labor, and education.

Speaking to the media after the closed-door meeting, Kong Chi Meng, the committee’s secretary-general and director of the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ), noted that the majority of recommended candidates remained in academic and research fields, largely due to the continued expansion of Macau’s higher education sector, including the growth of its universities.

By tier, senior professionals formed the largest group, while outstanding talents –defined as industry leaders – numbered around 100, and high-end talent was in the double digits. In terms of sectoral distribution, applications spanned all areas of the “1+4” industries, including high-tech, big health, and modern finance, with the culture, sports and others category accounting for the largest share, a grouping that also encompasses education professionals.