RGC Forum 2025 Enhances Collaboration Between Scholars and Government for Research Development in Hong Kong

2025-06-12 16:45 Last Updated At：20:28

RGC Forum highlights Hong Kong's commitment to research endeavours

The Research Grants Council (RGC) Forum 2025 was held today (June 12) with an aim of fostering mutual understanding and exchanges between the RGC and local scholars. It was officiated by the Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, and was well-received with participation from senior management of the eight University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities and more than 400 local and overseas scholars.

Click to Gallery

RGC Forum highlights Hong Kong's commitment to research endeavours Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

More Images

RGC Forum highlights Hong Kong's commitment to research endeavours Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Speaking at the opening session of the Forum, Dr Sze said that the Government attaches great importance to investing in education and developing strategies and initiatives to establish a comprehensive research and development policy framework to ensure Hong Kong remains technologically and economically equipped for future challenges. Through strengthening support for researchers and cultivating a research-centric environment, Hong Kong's long-term competitiveness will be elevated by strong research competence, thereby upholding Hong Kong's status as a world-class city and an international hub for higher education.

"We firmly support funding research projects and activities across the eight UGC-funded universities, as well as the self-financing degree sector. With the backing of the RGC, numerous research initiatives are in progress, aiming at nurturing research capabilities, fostering a conducive research atmosphere and delving into uncharted realms of knowledge," he added.

Dr Sze highlighted that, to attract more exceptional students to study and conduct research in Hong Kong, the quota of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme will increase to 400 places in the 2025/26 academic year. As a metropolis with a unique blend of Eastern and Western cultures, Hong Kong attracts a rich variety of top scholars with vast international experience; some 70 per cent of them come from outside Hong Kong. The high degree of internationalism not only provides a solid foundation for Hong Kong's academic and research excellence, but also elevates Hong Kong's status as a global centre for education.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the RGC, Professor Timothy W Tong, highlighted the RGC's commitment to promoting high-quality and impactful research, as well as the Council's endeavours in working with the research community to advance knowledge discovery and bring benefits to Hong Kong society.

"The unwavering pursuit of research excellence by the Hong Kong academia underpins the city's position as a vibrant international hub for higher education. Notwithstanding the continuous increase in the number of research projects in recent years, it is heartening to note that the overall quality of the research proposals has remained meritorious and highly competitive, which demonstrates the steadfastness of our research community," said Professor Tong.

The Forum featured engaging presentations by the RGC Panel Chairs and their representatives, who shared observations on research funding applications in the latest round of the exercise, pointers for crafting competitive research proposals as well as the latest trends and developments in their respective research fields. The Forum concluded with an interactive question and answer session, which further enriched the discussions.

Six illegal workers and an employer arrested in Hong Kong's anti-illegal worker operation Contribute.

Seven persons arrested during anti-illegal worker operation

The Immigration Department (ImmD) mounted an anti-illegal worker operation codenamed "Contribute" today (January 15).During the operation, ImmD Task Force officers raided premises under renovation in a newly built public housing estate in Sheung Shui district.A total of six suspected illegal workers and one suspected employer were arrested. Thearrested suspected illegal workers comprise six men, aged 22 to 41. Furthermore, one man, aged 45, suspected of employing the illegal workers, was also arrested. An investigation into the suspected employers is ongoing, and the possibility of further arrests is not ruled out.

Apart from mounting the enforcement operation, ImmD officers and a promotional vehicle have been deployed to distribute "Don't Employ Illegal Workers" leaflets and convey the message in the estate.

An ImmD spokesman said, "Any person who contravenes a condition of stay in force in respect of him or her shall be guilty of an offence. Also, visitors are not allowed to take employment in Hong Kong, whether paid or unpaid, without the permission of the Director of Immigration. Offenders are liable to prosecution and upon conviction face a maximum fine of $50,000 and up to two years' imprisonment. Aiders and abettors are also liable to prosecution and penalties."

The spokesman stressed that it is a serious offence to employ people who are not lawfully employable. Under the Immigration Ordinance, the maximum penalty for an employer employing a person who is not lawfully employable, i.e. an illegal immigrant, a person who is the subject of a removal order or a deportation order, an overstayer or a person who was refused permission to land, has been significantly increased from a fine of $350,000 and three years' imprisonment to a fine of $500,000 and 10 years' imprisonment to reflect the gravity of such offences. The director, manager, secretary, partner, etc, of the company concerned may also bear criminal liability. The High Court has laid down sentencing guidelines that the employer of an illegal worker should be given an immediate custodial sentence.

According to the court sentencing, employers must take all practicable steps to determine whether a person is lawfully employable prior to employment. Apart from inspecting a prospective employee's identity card, the employer has the explicit duty to make enquiries regarding the person and ensure that the answers would not cast any reasonable doubt concerning the lawful employability of the person. The court will not accept failure to do so as a defence in proceedings. It is also an offence if an employer fails to inspect the job seeker's valid travel document if the job seeker does not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card. Offenders are liable upon conviction to a maximum fine of $150,000 and to imprisonment for one year. In that connection, the spokesman would like to remind all employers not to defy the law by employing illegal workers. The ImmD will continue to take resolute enforcement action to combat such offences.

Under the existing mechanism, the ImmD will, as a standard procedure, conduct an initial screening of vulnerable persons, including illegal workers, illegal immigrants, sex workers and foreign domestic helpers, who are arrested during any operation with a view to ascertaining whether they are trafficking in persons (TIP) and/or forced labour victims. When any TIP and/or forced labour indicator is revealed in the initial screening, the ImmD officers will conduct a full debriefing and identification by using a standardised checklist to ascertain the presence of TIP and/or forced labour elements. Identified TIP and/or forced labour victims will be provided with various forms of support and assistance, including urgent intervention, medical services, counselling, shelter or temporary accommodation and other supporting services. The ImmD calls on TIP and/or forced labour victims to report crimes to the relevant departments immediately.

For reporting illegal employment activities, please call the dedicated hotline 3861 5000, by fax at 2824 1166, email to anti_crime@immd.gov.hk, or submit "Online Reporting of Immigration Offences" form at www.immd.gov.hk.

RGC Forum 2025 Enhances Collaboration Between Scholars and Government for Research Development in Hong Kong

HK