Children's Education Drives Mainland Chinese Families to Hong Kong Talent Schemes

More than 90 per cent of mainland Chinese families moving to Hong Kong under the city’s talent visa schemes have cited their children’s education as the primary reason for relocating, according to a survey.

The survey by Beacon Group, one of the city’s largest tutoring and college admissions consultancies, was published on Thursday and showed that nearly 80 per cent of the respondents chose to move at a time when their children were in upper secondary school.

The study was conducted from May to June and brought together online responses from 239 mainland parents who had arrived in Hong Kong under various talent admission schemes.

According to the survey, 93.3 per cent of parents said their children’s education and further study prospects were the primary reasons for coming to Hong Kong.

Nearly half of the respondents entered under the Top Talent Pass Scheme, with the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme making up the next largest group.

Most respondents hold master’s degrees and have annual household incomes exceeding HK$1 million (US$127,600).

The Top Talent Pass Scheme, launched in December 2022, is a fast-track visa for high-earning professionals and graduates from top global universities, requiring no prior job offer.