Mainland talent in Hong Kong offer stiff competition to both local job applicants as well as expats from Western countries.

But, while mainland professionals are a tremendous asset to Hong Kong, the SAR government cannot ignore the reaction of local people, warns Joshua Mok Ka-ho, acting vice-president of the Hong Kong Institute of Education.

"Hong Kong people, on the other hand, should have the open-mindedness (for foreign talents)," he says.

According to the government, nearly half of the mainland professionals working in the HKSAR earn more than HK$20,000 a month, while some 16 percent are paid more than HK$40,000 per month. A survey by the University of Hong Kong also showed that mainland graduates, on average, earn more than local graduates.

What might be of concern is that local graduates find themselves "below the bar" s et by their mainland compatriots to accept openings in the Hong Kong job market. One of the challenges for local graduates is the growing demand for candidates who can speak Mandarin, and with a wide knowledge of China. This could leave local graduates out in the cold not only unqualified for positions here, but elsewhere.

Working hard is surely what local talents must first and foremost deliver. But Cheng Kai-ming, chair professor of education at the University of Hong Kong, notes that there is still not enough cross-border mobility of human capital. More Hong Kong people could benefit from cross-border mobility if only they are able to understand the mainland's markets better, he argues.

"A global city must have sufficient mobility [of human capital] with the surrounding hinterland. Boston attracts students from all over the world, and Boston residents could have a lot of choice to study in other places. It has foreign talents working there, and Boston people would not just work in Boston alone," says Cheng.

"If Hong Kong people look for jobs in the Pearl River Delta region, it would have been a very different scene," he says.

(HK Edition 06/28/2013 page8)