Fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission convenes sixth meeting
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At the meeting, the Office of the Government Economist briefed members on Hong Kong's latest economic performance and labour market situation. Members noted that Hong Kong's economy expanded robustly in the first quarter of 2026, growing by 5.9 per cent over a year earlier, marking the strongest economic growth in nearly five years. The labour market showed moderate improvement in recent months, with the latest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate (for March 2026 to May 2026) dropping from 3.9 per cent to 3.7 per cent compared with the period from November 2025 to January 2026. Looking ahead, Hong Kong's economic outlook remains largely resilient, with the real Gross Domestic Product growth forecast for 2026 projected at 2.5 per cent to 3.5 per cent.
In addition, the Security Bureau briefed members on the various immigration facilitation measures for the public and businesses. These included measures facilitating the southbound and northbound two-way flow of talent, and visa and immigration facilitation measures. Through the immigration facilitation measures for the public and businesses, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government will actively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and fully leverage Hong Kong's unique role as a "super connector" under "one country, two systems" to better integrate into and serve the overall national development. Members welcomed the enhancement measures, noting that they would further enrich Hong Kong's talent ecosystem and inject new momentum into the city's long-term economic development.
Members also noted that the Health Bureau had commissioned the Hospital Authority (HA) to carry out a new round of healthcare manpower projections this year. The purpose of the projection exercise is to ensure that there are sufficient healthcare professionals to meet the ever-evolving demand for healthcare services in society, and that the relevant training policies remain aligned with actual circumstances. The Government and the HA will further refine the methodology for this round of projection and promote data collection simultaneously. This includes systematically compiling relevant data such as overall service volume statistics, human resource distribution, and local training scale from the industry and various medical specialties. Views regarding future population changes and the status of technology application raised by members will be incorporated. The results are expected to be published in mid-2027. Based on the projection results, the Government will revisit the existing strategies for local healthcare manpower in tandem with the next University Grants Committee triennium, as well as the reviews of other schemes, in making further recommendations on the relevant healthcare training places. With a continuously ageing population, the demand for healthcare services is facing structural growth. Members supported the HKSAR Government's proactive efforts in conducting the healthcare manpower projection, utilising data analysis to guide policy and service planning, thereby enhancing the precision and forward-looking nature of public health policies.
Ends/Monday, June 22, 2026
Issued at HKT 18:30
Issued at HKT 18:30
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