Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai said yesterday that the local government is studying the feasibility of launching a new measure for its talent acquisition programme where applicants who have benefitted from Hengqin’s talent acquisition programme will be awarded extra scores in their applications for Macau’s talent acquisition programme.
Sam made the remarks in a speech while chairing this year’s first plenary meeting of the government-appointed Talents Development Committee at Government Headquarters in Nam Van yesterday.
The meeting, which was held behind closed doors, was open to the media at the start when Sam made his opening speech.
The committee comprises government officials from various public entities, as well as professionals from different sectors from civil society appointed by the government.
Sam noted in his speech that the government has rolled out three phases of its talent acquisition programme, since Macau’s current legal system for acquiring talents from outside Macau came into force in July 2023. He underlined that after the completion of each of the three phases, the government reviewed and summarised the effectiveness of its implementation, with the aim of coming up with improvements to the programme’s modus operandi for the subsequent phase.
Sam underlined the local government’s commitment to constantly improving its policies and measures to acquire talents from outside Macau, making them more flexible in adapting to the latest situation, with the aim of enhancing the city’s competitiveness in the “global battle for talent”.
Sam noted that with the aim of advancing Macau’s “One Centre, One Platform, One Base” campaign and developing the city into a hub for international high-end talent while strengthening the cultivation of talents required for the development of Macau’s nascent industries, he led a delegation to four European countries (Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and Belgium) earlier this year to expand and deepen cooperation in the joint cultivation of talents between Macau, the Chinese mainland, and Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries. Through his visit, Sam said, Macau also aimed to leverage its role as a “precise liaison” between China and Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking countries, by seeking to establish more pragmatic cooperation with government agencies, education institutions, and business associations there.
The Macau government’s “One Centre, One Platform, One Base” concept refers to Macau developing itself into a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, a commercial and trade cooperation service platform between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, and an exchange and cooperation base with Chinese culture as its mainstream and co-existence of different cultures.
Sam underlined that Macau has entered a critical stage of advancing its appropriate economic diversification and deeply integrating itself into the nation’s development strategies. He underlined the local government’s commitment to supporting the development of local talents and attracting talents from outside Macau, by leveraging the advantages brought about by the implementation of the “One Country, Two Systems” principle, the ongoing development of its Macau-Hengqin International Education (University) Town project, and Macau’s existing state key laboratories and its various sci-tech research platforms with international links.
Concerning the Macau government’s ongoing campaign to acquire talents from outside Macau, Sam said that in order to consolidate the strategic positioning of the “Macau + Hengqin” integrated development, the Macau government is studying the feasibility of launching a new measure for the upcoming, fourth phase of its talent acquisition programme where applicants who have benefitted from Hengqin’s talent acquisition programme will be awarded extra scores.
Hengqin’s current talent acquisition programme was launched in April this year.
Sam also said that the future possible amendments to Macau’s current law on acquiring talents from outside the special administrative region will enable the local government to implement talent recruitment policies that are more “open, precise, and efficient”.
The current law on acquiring talents from outside Macau, which took effect in July 2023, requires the government to review its provisions every four years for possible amendments.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters after the meeting, Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) Director Kong Chi Meng, who is also the committee’s secretary-general, noted that the local government is required to complete its review of the talent acquisition law next year – four years after its implementation. Kong said that the local government set up a cross-departmental working group last month tasked with reviewing the law and coming up with possible amendments to the law.
Kong said that the possible amendments to the law aim to enhance the flexibility of Macau’s talent acquisition system and streamline administrative procedures for vetting applications made under its talent acquisition programme.
Government-proposed amendments to laws must be passed by the legislature to take legal effect.
Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai addresses the Talents Development Committee’s first 2026 plenary meeting at Government Headquarters yesterday. – Photo: GCS
Members of the Talents Development Committee listen to Chief Executive Sam Hou Fai (centre, back) delivering an opening speech during yesterday’s meeting of the government-appointed committee at Government Headquarters on Avenida da Praia Grande. – Photo: Tony Wong
