​The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met members of the University Grants Committee (UGC) today (January 13) to exchange views on the latest development of higher education in Hong Kong. The Secretary for Education, Dr Christine Choi, and the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, also joined the meeting.
      
     The UGC Chairman, Mr Tim Lui, briefed Mr Lee on the UGC's strategies and initiatives in nurturing talents and integrating into national development, promoting whole-person development and encouraging students to broaden their international exposure and set sights on Mainland opportunities, as well as telling the good stories of Hong Kong. He highlighted that the UGC would continue to support the universities in contributing to Hong Kong's development as an international innovation and technology hub under the National 14th Five-Year Plan. He also thanked the Government for the significant investment in higher education, which has ensured the continuing success of Hong Kong's universities in making outstanding achievements.
      
     Mr Lee welcomed overseas members of the UGC for visiting Hong Kong to attend the meeting in person for the first time since 2020. Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to the UGC for serving its bridging role between the Government and universities, and supporting the higher education sector's continued efforts together in striving for excellence, nurturing talents for Hong Kong's development and leveraging their strengths in research. He encouraged the UGC to continue guiding the universities in striving to achieve the Government's targets of promoting STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) education and subjects related to Hong Kong's development into the "eight centres" under the National 14th Five-Year Plan, thereby supporting Hong Kong's contribution to national development in the years to come.

Ends/Friday, January 13, 2023
Issued at HKT 16:20

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