The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with members of the University Grants Committee (UGC) today (September 5) to exchange views on the latest developments in higher education in Hong Kong. The discussion covered themes including institutional governance, strategic development directions of local and overseas universities, the contribution of higher education to development, and the relationship between research and knowledge transfer. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; the Head of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit, Dr Stephen Wong; and the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms May Chan, also joined the meeting.

     The UGC Chairman, Mr Tim Lui, briefed Mr Lee on the various initiatives being advanced by the UGC, particularly the strategic development directions under the Planning Exercise 2025-28 and the importance of institutional governance. The UGC will continue to collaborate with UGC-funded universities to nurture local talent and attract elites from around the world, promoting the "Study in Hong Kong" brand and actively contributing to establishing Hong Kong as an international hub for higher education.

     Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to UGC members from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas countries for their suggestions on the development of Hong Kong's higher education. He acknowledged the UGC's contributions to promoting the internationalisation and diversification of UGC-funded universities. He noted that Hong Kong is the only city in the world with five universities ranked among the global top 100, and that the Government and the UGC have been working together to nurture talent, enhance research and knowledge transfer, and support the development of Hong Kong as an international hub for education and high-calibre talent. Highlighting the Government's efforts towards the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town, Mr Lee expressed his aspiration that the UGC will continue to encourage local universities to collaborate with overseas and Mainland institutions, leveraging Hong Kong's unique advantages of being backed by the motherland and connected to the world. He added that through flexible and innovative development models, more research collaborations and exchange programmes can be established, enhancing the international influence of Hong Kong's academic and research endeavours and promoting the development of Hong Kong's new quality productive forces.

Ends/Friday, September 5, 2025
Issued at HKT 19:30

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