A technology sector professional who has successfully renewed his visa under the city's Top Talent Pass Scheme described Hong Kong as his "second home", a sentiment officials hope will resonate with job seekers as the Global Talent Summit Week approaches. Tony Zhou, who came to the SAR from Shanghai with his family two years ago, said life in the city has far exceeded his initial expectations, despite early concerns about the cost of living and education. "We kind of saw lots of difficulties and challenges before we moved to Hong Kong, like the living cost, like the condition of the living, like the education of the kids," he told RTHK. "But luckily we all conquered [them] through the two-year period." The decision to renew his visa was a family one, rooted in the integration they have achieved since arriving. Zhou recalled a pivotal moment when he returned to Hong Kong from a holiday abroad. "Suddenly, I have a very strong feeling that, 'Oh, I'm going back home.' "At that moment, I thought I had already considered Hong Kong as my second hometown in my mind." Working as the director of a data centre company, Zhou noted that Hong Kong’s push into artificial intelligence and technology infrastructure aligns closely with its efforts to attract specialised labour. Zhou was speaking at a press conference on Monday ahead of the Global Talent Summit Week, an international mega event focused on the integration of education, technology and talent. Scheduled to be held from March 17 to 29, the summit aims to foster cross-regional talent exchange and explore future trends in the field. Organised by the Labour and Welfare Bureau and Hong Kong Talent Engage, it will feature three core components. These include the International Talent Forum and the CareerConnect Expo, both set for March 18 and 19 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Additionally, a series of satellite events focused on human resources and talent development will be held. Felix Chan, director of Hong Kong Talent Engage, said the summit brings together leaders from government, business and academia to discuss emerging talent trends and showcase a wide range of development opportunities. "When talents come here and attend the expo and also attend the forum... it helps a lot of talents to see small opportunities and understand different pathways in Hong Kong, whether they want to find a job or whether they want to establish a business," he said. Edited by Edmond Fong