Geopolitical turbulence will not dim Hong Kong’s allure for global talent, “as long as the special administrative region makes the most of the strength it already has”, Director of Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) Felix Chan Hoi-king said on Thursday.

Among the city’s attributes is assurance of family safety — a pivotal factor for international high-caliber professionals deciding on a home base, said Chan, as he addressed reporters on the second day of the Global Talent Summit Week, offering an early assessment of the week-long event’s outcomes.

Chan revealed that HKTE’s global outreach plan for this year will include more than 20 cities spanning the Chinese mainland, Southeast Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Europe and North America.

ALSO READ: Over 270,000 global professionals attracted to Hong Kong

Chan said the visits will follow a holistic strategy, with each mission calibrated to align local talent strengths with Hong Kong’s evolving needs as it races to cement its hub roles across multiple fronts —finance, technology, commerce and logistics — as articulated in the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30).

He cited that next month, he will lead a debut delegation to the Netherlands to specifically tap into the country’s substantial high-tech talent pool.

“Security is always a concern, we will ensure every event is safe,” Chan acknowledged, adding that HKTE is open to adjusting plans in response to market conditions and remains flexible.

Chan noted that one of Global Talent Summit Week’s attendees was an official from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, who had travelled to Hong Kong even as his home city came under attack during the ongoing regional conflict in the Middle East.

READ MORE: HK education hub faces opportunities, challenges

The official, who had repeatedly expressed his desire to attend, only secured confirmation days before the summit’s kick-off after flight cancellations threatened to upset his itinerary, Chan said. He added that such dedication spoke volumes about international willingness to engage with both the summit and Hong Kong’s aspirations as a talent hub.

According to Chan, Wednesday — the first day of the summit — drew over 7,000 visitors, already exceeding the total two-day turnout earlier anticipated, with over half from the mainland and overseas. The event’s global livestream had attracted over 150,000 online views on the day, he added, calling the overall participation “in line with expectations” and reflective of “very good growth”.

Contact the writer at wanqing@chinadailyhk.com