Go to main content
 
Full text of the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address (8)
**********************************************************
Chapter VII  Enhance Social Well-being

(A) Advance Quality Education and Nurture a Diversified Pool of Talent

269. Quality education is the strategic cornerstone for enhancing competitiveness as well as the core engine propelling Hong Kong's rise as an international education hub and cradle for talent. The Government will expand the scope of the NMUT's development; raise the quality of school education and student development; strengthen digital and values' education at the kindergarten, primary and secondary levels; elevate the status of vocational and professional education and training; and adopt a systematic approach for strengthening the professional development of teachers.

Promote Digital and STEAM Education

270. To closely align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan on "advancing the digital transformation strategy for education", the EDB will follow its Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools, promoting digital and STEAM²⁹ education, including:

(i) Roll out a free digital-education learning resource platform equipped with AI Large Language Models, while progressively extending the "AI Teaching Assistant" to more subjects to provide teaching support.
(ii) Review technology education in primary schools to optimise the interface of Information and Innovation Technology curricula between primary and secondary levels, and revise the senior secondary mathematics and science curricula.
(iii) Earmark funding under the Quality Education Fund to take forward digitalisation in kindergarten education administration, including enhancing digital equipment and AI tools of kindergartens, promoting technological ethics and digital literacy to parents, and providing training for teaching and administrative staff.

Enhance the Operating Standards of Schools

271. We will refine the Code of Practice for Private Schools and update the Private School List, improving the operation standards and transparency of private schools.

272. We will launch the "Confluence and Elevation – School Excellence Project" for publicly-funded schools in the 2026/27 school year. This will encourage and support mergers of suitable publicly-funded primary and secondary schools, consolidating resources and raising the quality of education.

Strengthen Support for Student Development

273. The EDB will develop a one-stop, self-directed learning portal for Chinese Language Education, organise territory-wide, English-speaking activities for students, provide opportunities for junior secondary students to learn other languages and encourage schools to arrange diversified activities for students to use the languages. The EDB will also collaborate with companies and higher education institutions to enhance the financial literacy of students.

Enhance Teachers' Professional Development

274. We will amend the Education Ordinance to require a practising certificate as a prerequisite for teaching, to enhance teacher registration mechanism. We will also improve the teacher training framework, setting specific training requirements to raise the professional standards of teachers.

Advance the Development of Universities of Applied Sciences

275. In collaboration with the Alliance of Universities of Applied Sciences, we will conduct publicity work on vocational and professional education and training early in secondary schools, to promote diversified pathways for students. We will also deepen collaboration with the GBA to explore, among others, the provision of joint programmes, cross-boundary internship and research collaboration.

Training for Local Technical Experts

276. We will extend the provision of an additional monthly training allowance of $1,000 to registered apprentices for a period of two years in view of the persistent shortage of local technical professionals and to encourage more young people to undergo apprenticeship training.

Continuous Training for Construction Technology Talent

277. The Construction Industry Council (CIC) will continue to provide systematic training courses to upgrade manpower capabilities (especially frontline staff on construction sites) in construction technologies.

Strengthen Skills Training for All and Consolidate Local Training Resources

278. Upskill Hong Kong (upgrade of the Employees Retraining Board) will publish the first phase of a skill-based training framework in the first quarter of 2027. It will focus on sectors related to city operations, guide training bodies in developing corresponding courses and build skills' learning pathways.

279. The Government will begin a review of the Continuing Education Fund with Upskill Hong Kong within the first year after the latter's establishment to consolidate local training resources and increase efficiency.

(B) Foster the Development of Young People, Women, Families and a Harmonious Society

Create a Bright Future for Young People

280. Since the current-term Government announced the Youth Development Blueprint, more than 290 initiatives have been implemented. We will continue to support young people in broadening their international horizons and deepening their participation in the development of the GBA, so that they can better integrate into and serve the overall national development, and accumulate practical experience in emerging fields. They will then become a dynamic force contributing to the development of Hong Kong and our country.

Empower Youth to Go Global

281. The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) will launch an International Young Talent Exchange Base³⁰ this year to promote international exchanges and invite Youth Link members to participate. The HYAB and the Base will:

(i) Launch a new HYAB – United Nations Youth Leaders Internship Programme, offering internship placements in various United Nations agencies.
(ii) Sign co-operation agreements and set up regular exchange platforms with international organisations; make arrangements for young people to participate in large-scale international conferences to be held in Hong Kong and the Mainland.
(iii) Invite international experts and visiting guests to exchange views with young people who have participated in international exchanges and internships.
(iv) Continue to organise the Youth Development Summit, convening young people from around the world to exchange views with Hong Kong youth.

282. The Government will also explore more opportunities for young people to go global, including:

(i) Explore with the IOMed opportunities for more youth participation in related affairs.
(ii) Continue to support exchanges outside Hong Kong and expand campus cross-cultural exchanges. The Funding Scheme for Chinese Mainland and Global Engagement and Student Learning Experience has benefitted over 74 000 students over the past three academic years. Starting from the 2026/27 academic year, the UGC will inject $100 million into the Scheme to cover countries and regions along the B&R.
(iii) The EDB has allocated additional resources to support the Vocational Training Council in forming the 41-strong Hong Kong, China delegation to participate in the WorldSkills Competition. Hailed as the "Skills Olympics", it will be held in September this year.

Open Up New Frontiers for Youth Development

283. The HYAB will deepen its support for young people in opening up new frontiers:

(i) Introduce a new thematic finance internship programme in the Mainland, allowing young people to undertake internships in large Mainland financial institution(s).
(ii) Launch thematic aerospace training activities in the Mainland for young people to gain a deeper understanding of the latest developments of our country's aerospace technology and promote an interest in the field.
(iii) Increase thematic internship places relating to high-end scientific research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, allowing more young people to take part in our country's top-notch scientific research.
(iv) Launch new AI experiential activities to increase young people's understanding of AI application and the industry.

284. We will strengthen support for young people to explore and pursue a career in new I&T disciplines:

(i) Introduce a young researcher category under the Innovation and Technology Support Programme.
(ii) The HKSTPC has expanded the Talent Foundry programme to provide training for local university students, researchers, career newcomers and professionals, focusing on AI+ and emerging technologies. Around 500 training opportunities are expected to be provided each year.
(iii) Continue to provide funding support for the HKPC to organise the Hong Kong Future Aerospace Technology Talents Training Programme for secondary students. Cyberport will also support I&T for young people through relevant programmes.

285. The HKHA will regularise the "Well Being · Start-Up 2.0" Programme, which provides rental concessions to encourage youth entrepreneurship. The programme will offer 15 shops and over 70 entrepreneurial opportunities, a sevenfold increase in scale compared to its pilot run. Referral efforts will also be stepped up to match promising projects with commercial partners.

"30 000 Youth Employment and Internship Programme"

286. The Government and the business sector will launch the two-year, "30 000 Youth Employment and Internship Programme" to facilitate youth employment and development, especially for those with limited or no work experience:

(i) The Government will mobilise the business sector, including major employer and trade associations, to provide an additional 10 000 full-time jobs lasting six months or more within a two-year period starting from the first quarter of 2027. The jobs will be open to young people newly entering the workforce, with the Government assuming part of the wages, i.e. $6,000 per month or up to one-third of the monthly salary, for six months.
(ii) The Government will expand the STEM Internship Scheme and enhance the HYAB Youth Start-up Internship Programme, providing more than 10 000 internship quotas within two years, with each intern receiving a subsidy of no less than $11,000.
(iii) In 2027 and 2028, the CIC and the Government will allocate funding to extend the on-the-job training subsidy scheme for professional graduates of relevant disciplines. A monthly salary subsidy of $5,000 will be provided for each graduate, offering a total of 10 000 training places over two years.
(iv) The FSDC will launch a two-year Financial Services Industry Youth Internship Programme together with industry, providing 1 000 youth internship placements related to financial services.

The Government will launch a "one-stop" dedicated webpage, making it easier for young people to access information about the programmes and apply for vacancies.

287. The Government will establish the "Youth Employment Link" online service portal to facilitate young people's access to employment information and support services. It will also launch the Shanghai-Hong Kong Youth Employment Scheme.

Eleven Measures to Promote Fertility

288. The current-term Government has shifted from a non-interventionist approach to actively promoting fertility, working to create a conducive environment for childbearing. An array of measures for promoting fertility and assisting families in taking care of their children have been introduced.

289. Measures initiated to create a conducive environment for childbearing include: Newborn Baby Bonus of $20,000; a double child allowance for newborns; increasing the child allowance; raising the tax-deduction ceiling for mortgage loan interest and rents; an allocation priority scheme for PRH applicants; a Home Ownership Scheme flat selection priority scheme; increasing the number of child care centres (CCCs) and the Child Care Centre Parent Subsidy; enhancing after-school care service; improving the Neighbourhood Support Child Care Project; a tax deduction for assisted reproductive services; increasing the service quota for assisted reproductive service at public hospitals; removing the statutory storage periods of gametes and embryos for own use; promoting the Good Employer Charter; and encouraging family friendly employment practices.

290. To further promote a conducive environment for fertility, we will also introduce the following 11 measures under a multipronged approach:

(i) The $20,000, newborn baby bonus, which is due to expire on 24 October this year, will be extended for three years.
(ii) To encourage families to have more than one child, the newborn baby bonus for the second or subsequent child born today or after will be increased from $20,000 to $30,000 for three years.
(iii) If a taxpayer's second child and subsequent children are born today or after, the tax allowance for them will be increased from $140,000 to $160,000, and the allowance may be claimed until they reach the age of 25 following established procedures. This will take effect from the year of assessment 2026/27.
(iv) The additional allowance for the first two years following childbirth for the aforesaid second and subsequent child will also be increased, from $140,000 to $160,000, effective from the year of assessment 2026/27.
(v) Eligible families (whose children are born today or after in Hong Kong, with either parent a Hong Kong permanent resident), having purchased a residential property from one year before to two years after the childbirth, are entitled to a stamp duty waiver capped at $20,000. The concession will take effect upon passage of the amendment bill.
(vi) Starting from the next Home Ownership Scheme sale exercise, the maximum mortgage loan-to-value ratio for White Form family applicants with newborns will be raised to 95%, to ease their down-payment burden.
(vii) The HA will increase the service quota for in-vitro fertilisation in phases over the next three years, by 300 treatment cycles to 1 900 treatment cycles per year.
(viii) The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) will gradually extend its free pre-pregnancy, antenatal and postnatal classes to all District Health Centres (DHCs) and DHC Expresses. The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong will launch publicity this year to promote healthy fertility.
(ix) Following last year's announcement to establish 15 new aided standalone CCCs, we will set up three more aided, standalone CCCs. These are expected to provide about 1 800 additional day-care service places by the end of 2030.
(x) The School-based After School Care Service Scheme will be regularised, starting from the 2027/28 school year and no quota will be imposed to continuously support families of primary school students with caretaking needs.
(xi) We will strengthen professional support for the After School Care Programme for Pre-primary Children, providing escort services and increasing service publicity.

Support Women's Development

291. We will extend the "She Inspires" Mentorship Programme by three years to broaden the horizons of female university students and promote high-quality career development.

Support Ethnic Minorities

292. Support Service Centres for Ethnic Minorities (EMs) will:

(i) Set up an Elder Harmony Network next year to increase support for EM elderly persons, and strengthen collaboration between the existing EM Care Teams and District Services and Community Care Teams, so that more EM elderly persons can be reached and referred for assistance, as needed.
(ii) Under the new Success Counsel Programme, outstanding EMs will be arranged to share their experience, and EM youth will be encouraged to join the District Youth Committees through the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth.

293. The Government will regularise the EM District Ambassador Pilot Scheme, which engages EMs or designated persons to provide support and publicise welfare services for EMs. In addition, EMs with higher education or professional qualifications will be invited to serve as social welfare volunteers.

294. We will adopt learning materials tailored for non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students, including the Youth Chinese Test and the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi Chinese Proficiency Test, and provide after-school Chinese language courses to NCS students from Primary One to Secondary Three. We will also provide suitable learning materials for NCS students.

Strengthen Training for Care Team Services

295. The establishment of Care Teams is an integral part of the current-term Government's commitment to improving district governance structure. To enhance the service quality of Care Teams, the Government will deploy resources to enhance training for Care Teams covering practical skills such as emergency knowledge, communication skills and health support.

Deepen Collaboration and Exchange in Social Services with Mainland Counterparts

296. The LWB, together with Connecting Hearts, has fostered in-depth exchange and collaboration between the social welfare sectors in Hong Kong and the Mainland, and facilitated the launch of a total of 102 livelihood improvement projects between 46 Hong Kong social welfare organisations and 81 counterparts from other GBA cities.

²⁹Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics.

³⁰It will include the Y Cube in Chai Wan, Youth Link · Nam Cheong, and the Youth Post in Kai Tak.

(To be continued.)
 
Ends/Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Issued at HKT 14:08
NNNN
Archives   Yesterday's Press Releases  
Back to Index Page
Back to top
Today's Press Releases