The Committee on Education, Technology and Talents (CETT), chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, held the third engagement session with the Panel of Advisors to the CETT today (June 12) to gather views from the Panel of Advisors on the formulation of Hong Kong's first five-year plan.
 
     This year marks the beginning of the National 15th Five-Year Plan. The Hong Kong Government will proactively align with the vast opportunities brought by the National 15th Five-Year Plan, and draw up Hong Kong's first five-year plan at full speed. At the engagement session, the Panel of Advisors pointed out that a forward-looking and strategic medium-to-long-term plan could further strengthen policy synergy, driving the integration of education, technology, and talent, and facilitating Hong Kong's better integration into and service of the overall national development.
 
     During the engagement session, the Panel of Advisors put forward various suggestions regarding the development of innovation and technology (I&T), education and talent in the five-year plan. The Panel of Advisors supported the Government in accelerating the development of the Hong Kong Park of the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone and the San Tin Technopole. The Panel of Advisors also recommended attracting more quality technology enterprises from the Chinese Mainland and overseas to establish a presence in the parks. This would create a cluster effect, conducive to building a comprehensive I&T industry chain for providing development opportunities for incoming and local I&T talent.
 
     The Panel of Advisors fully recognised that the current-term Government has achieved significant success in its talent initiatives. It supported the Government's continued efforts to expand Hong Kong's talent pool through local training and recruiting global elites, while seizing the opportunities brought about by technological advancements at the same time, strengthening the professional development of teachers, enhancing the effectiveness of nurturing local talent to inject new impetus into Hong Kong's high-quality development continually. Participants of the meeting also attached great importance to nurturing diversified talent to meet the needs of Hong Kong's economic and I&T development, and exchanged views on the development strategies for Vocational and Professional Education and Training, as well as that for skills training. The Panel of Advisors also explored the development of local industries, education, and the labour market in response to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence technology.
 
     Mr Chan expressed gratitude for the valuable suggestions raised during the engagement session, which would provide an important reference for the Government in formulating the five-year plan more comprehensively. Mr Chan also briefed the Panel of Advisors on the insights gained by the Working Group on Planning and Construction of the University Town during its earlier visits to the Mainland, Korea, Germany and Switzerland to study local higher education and I&T infrastructure. CETT will continue to maintain close communication and co-operation with the Panel of Advisors to formulate strategies for developing Hong Kong into an international I&T centre and international hub for high-calibre talent.
 
     The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Jeff Sze; Permanent Secretaries or representatives of the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, Education Bureau and Labour and Welfare Bureau attended the engagement session today.  

Ends/Friday, June 12, 2026
Issued at HKT 20:02

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