Currently, the epidemic in Hong Kong has not been effectively controlled, but with the central government's intervention, it can be anticipated that the fifth wave of local epidemics in Hong Kong is about to reach a turning point, reversing the situation.

Unfortunately, many people react to the word "epidemic" as if they have encountered a flood or a fierce beast, blindly pessimistic about Hong Kong, and mistakenly believe that the value of Hong Kong identity has also depreciated.

If you are willing to think rationally, you will find that as long as the welfare policies associated with Hong Kong identity remain unchanged, the value of Hong Kong identity will never depreciate; the epidemic will not affect the rights and interests of Hong Kong identity in education, taxation, investment, and other areas.

This is exactly the key point that I want to share with you today: why, in such a severe epidemic situation, the number of talent applications has actually increased compared to previous years.

Without further ado, let’s directly compare the application numbers from the same period in 2021 and 2022.

From the documents released by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, it is not difficult to see that the number of application files this year has doubled compared to last year. Through interviews with applicants and experience analysis, we found that every time there is an epidemic in Hong Kong, the number of talent applications reaches a small peak.

I believe everyone must be very puzzled about what these people are thinking, why they choose to go against the tide?

Seize the golden season for applications to obtain identity as soon as possible.

In fact, there is a saying circulating within the industry: "It is better to apply for Hong Kong talent early than late." This is because the process from submitting application materials to final principle approval for Hong Kong talent is a long cycle, generally taking 9 to 12 months.
Currently, a large number of people are in a state of hesitation and indecision. At this time, applying first can avoid the peak application period, allowing for an earlier acquisition of Hong Kong identity. Don’t wait until everything in Hong Kong settles down before applying, as it will be too late.
Conversely, if you continue to wait until 2023, the time for obtaining principle approval may be delayed until 2024 or even 2025.

Delaying by one or two years may seem inconsequential, but it could very well delay your children's educational planning and your own career development.

For example, if a child is about to graduate and could have participated in the overseas Chinese student joint examination with a Hong Kong identity to gain admission to prestigious universities like Tsinghua or Peking University with lower scores, they might miss the opportunity due to this one-year delay, wasting a year of youth.

Currently, Hong Kong is in a state of talent shortage, and due to the inconveniences brought by the epidemic, the application policy for talent identity has been relatively relaxed compared to before.

For example, the Hong Kong Immigration Department has introduced a no-interview policy, allowing for principle approval to be obtained and visas to be collected on behalf of applicants without the need to travel to Hong Kong; the quota for the "Hong Kong Talent Scheme" has increased from 2,000 to 4,000 per year; and new professions have been added to the Hong Kong talent list.
With the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, national policy advantages are greatly tilted towards individuals with Hong Kong identity, highlighting the advantages of Hong Kong identity. Although Hong Kong is still troubled by the epidemic, it will definitely be a very important step in the national development pattern in the future. Obtaining Hong Kong identity first means seizing opportunities ahead of others. The demand for identity has become a necessity in the "post-epidemic era."
From the end of 2019 to now, we have been in a turbulent "magical era," with various uncertainties and sudden epidemics affecting everyone to varying degrees. In other words, our lives are riskier than ever.

Wall Street financial giant Jim Rogers once said, "In the next decade, having only one passport is very dangerous; having a second passport will give you a second chance at survival."
The configuration of a second identity is not only an important step for us in global asset allocation, but also a favorable means for us to cope with children's education, personal development, and various uncertain situations in the future.

High-net-worth individuals with long-term vision and perspective have made plans early, preparing all possible retreats for themselves and their families in the face of future uncertainties.

Avoiding the competitive pressure of talent selection.

Friends who have a slight understanding of Hong Kong talent will know that when applying for talent, a comprehensive scoring system is used to assess whether one qualifies for Hong Kong identity. Involving scores inevitably leads to competition; if a large number of elite peers from the same industry apply at the same time, the competitive pressure is evident.
Choosing to submit applications during the epidemic is also a way for everyone to avoid competitive pressure; with fewer competitors, the chances of increasing the approval rate are higher.

(Four) Obtaining Hong Kong identity does not conflict with living in the mainland.

Key point: Applying for Hong Kong identity through the Hong Kong talent scheme does not have immigration monitoring. In other words, after obtaining Hong Kong identity, most approved applicants will still live and work in the mainland. Hong Kong identity does not conflict with residing in the mainland; therefore, the severity of the epidemic in Hong Kong will not affect everyone's life, and there is no need to worry excessively.

选择在疫情期间提交申请也是大家规避竞争压力的一种方式，竞争人数少了对提高通过率就多一分胜算。

（四）拿香港身份与内地生活不冲突

此处划重点：通过香港优才申请香港身份，是没有移民监的。换言之拿到香港身份后，大多数获批者最后依然会留在内地工作生活。香港身份与居住在内地并不冲突，正因如此香港的疫情严重程度并不会影响到大家的生活，无须过分担忧。