On the last day of his visit in Beijing, Chief Executive John Lee met Minister of Human Resources & Social Security Wang Xiaoping to exchange views on issues including the integrated development of education, scientific and technological innovation, and talent cultivation, as well as building Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent.
 
Mr Lee announced in his 2024 Policy Address the establishment of the Committee on Education, Technology & Talents. While introducing the concept and background of setting up the committee, he told Ms Wang that it originated from President Xi Jinping’s important speech at the National Conference on Education this year, which pointed out that education development, scientific and technological innovation, and talent cultivation should be promoted as an integrated effort.
 
Chaired by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, the committee is tasked with co-ordinating and promoting the integrated development of education, technology and talent, and attracting high-calibre talent from around the world to Hong Kong.
 
Mr Chan, who also attended today’s meeting, reported the work directions of the committee, explaining that it will leverage Hong Kong’s strategic positioning and advantages of its “eight centres” of development under the support of the National 14th Five-Year Plan to promote the co-ordinated development in technological innovation, industrial innovation, and the supply and demand of human resources.
 
Moreover, Mr Lee highlighted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government not only attaches great importance to nurturing local talent but also actively attracts diverse talent to work and settle in Hong Kong.
 
He emphasised that since the Hong Kong SAR Government launched various enhanced talent admission schemes in end-2022, over 260,000 applications have been approved, and over 170,000 talented individuals have arrived in Hong Kong as at the end of last month. 

In addition to thanking the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Security for its continuous support to the Hong Kong SAR Government, Mr Lee expressed hope that the Hong Kong SAR Government can create joint forces with the ministry in serving the country’s workforce development strategy and make greater contributions to building a great country in all respects through Chinese modernisation.
 
Separately, during his stay in the capital city, the Chief Executive met members of the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in China. He said he is assured that the chamber will continue to utilise its extensive network to promote Hong Kong’s business advantages and latest development opportunities in Beijing and other provinces and cities on the Mainland, fostering the integration and exchange between Beijing and Hong Kong.
 
Mr Lee also met representatives from Renmin University of China, Peking University, Tsinghua University, Beihang University, Beijing Institute of Technology and Beijing Normal University to understand the participation of graduates from the six institutions in the Top Talent Pass Scheme, as well as the academic development for Hong Kong students studying in these institutions. 

He made it clear that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to strengthen co-operation with different institutions to jointly build a talent hub.
 
The Chief Executive headed back to Hong Kong this afternoon.