Committee on Education, Technology and Talents meets and exchanges with Presidents of UGC-funded universities
The Committee on Education, Technology and Talents (CETT), led by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, met with the Presidents of Hong Kong's eight University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities today (June 26) to exchange views on the work of promoting integrated development of education, technology and talent. Three members of the CETT, including the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong; and the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, also attended the meeting.
At the meeting, Mr Chan introduced the CETT's work plan to the attending Presidents. The CETT builds on the strategic positioning and advantages of the "eight centres" to cultivate and attract talents, foster technology development and promote Hong Kong as an international hub for high-calibre talent through practical and effective reform and innovation, with a view to fostering the economic development of Hong Kong and contributing to the impetus of national development. On education, the CETT adopts a more integrated and forward-looking strategic direction for talent development, with a view to developing Hong Kong into an international education hub, building and promoting the "Study in Hong Kong" brand, and providing solid talent support for the "eight centres" as well as innovation and technology targeting the development needs of Hong Kong.
Mr Chan said that the Government attracts quality talents from around the world and nurtures local talents through various measures, such as scholarship programmes and increasing the non-local student quota. Starting from the 2024/25 academic year (AY), the non-local student quota for UGC-funded institutions has been doubled from 20 per cent to 40 per cent, while non-local undergraduate enrolment has increased from 19.9 per cent in 2023/24 AY to 23.2 per cent in 2024/25 AY. In light of the sudden policy changes regarding higher education overseas, Mr Chan thanked the UGC-funded universities for providing comprehensive support measures for affected students in a holistic approach, as well as seizing the opportunity to attract more top talent to pursue their studies in Hong Kong so as to give full play to Hong Kong's role as an international post-secondary education hub. The Government will also do its utmost to provide assistance and convenience for overseas talent interested in studying or conducting research in Hong Kong's higher education institutions, including striving to further expand the non-local student quota based on actual needs. As at the date of the meeting, the UGC-funded universities have received about 850 transfer enquiries related to the sudden policy changes regarding higher education overseas. In addition, many UGC-funded universities have recorded a double-digit year-on-year increase in the number of applications from non-local students for the new AY.
The meeting also introduced to the Presidents the scheme jointly implemented by the Education Bureau and the Development Bureau to facilitate the market to increase the supply of student hostels on a self-financing and privately-funded basis. The scheme will be officially launched in mid-July this year, with a view to streamlining the processing of relevant applications in relation to planning, lands, and building plans, so as to facilitate the market to increase the number of hostel places, thereby supporting Hong Kong's development into an international post-secondary education hub. The Government will continue its unwavering support through the UGC for the institutions' continuous innovation and optimisation, giving full play to the strengths of Hong Kong's first-class universities, as well as implement a series of policies for attracting top global talents to tie in with the institutions' capacity expansion and quality enhancement.
Mr Chan said that the CETT will continue to maintain close communication with the eight UGC-funded universities in joining hands to formulate and implement various initiatives to consolidate Hong Kong's position as an international post-secondary education hub. The CETT will also continue to meet and collaborate with various industries and stakeholders to pool wisdom and ideas for building Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent. On the other hand, the Presidents of the eight UGC-funded universities expressed their continued full support for the CETT's work, and will work closely with the Government to attract talent from all over the world and nurture local talent to build a quality talent pool for the future development of Hong Kong and the country.
Committee on Education, Technology and Talents meets and exchanges with Presidents of UGC-funded universities Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Committee on Education, Technology and Talents meets and exchanges with Presidents of UGC-funded universities Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
EDB reminds parents to choose primary schools under Central Allocation process for their children
The Education Bureau (EDB) today (January 12) reminded parents that children who have joined the Primary One Admission (POA) System for 2026 but have not yet secured a discretionary place can take part in the Central Allocation process for a Primary One (P1) place in a government or aided primary school. Parents concerned should make their choice of schools within the period from January 19 to 25.
Digitalisation of POA
---------------------------
In line with the Smart Government strategy, the EDB has fully implemented digitalisation of the POA. Parents who have registered as POA e-Platform (ePOA) users and have bound their account to "iAM Smart+" may submit the Choice of Schools Form for Central Allocation from January 19 to 25 through the ePOA. Please refer to the related videos and Parent's Guide on the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/primary-secondary/spa-systems/primary-1-admission/poa_eplatform/index.html) for details of the procedures for activating and logging into an ePOA account and for making school choices for the Central Allocation of POA via the e-Platform.
Making school choices at Central Allocation Centres
-----------------------------------------------------------------
The EDB will send letters to parents on January 14 inviting them to make their choice of schools. To cater for the needs of different parents, parents can still submit the Choice of Schools Form in paper form by visiting the designated Central Allocation Centre at the suggested time slot (i.e. 9.30am to 12.30pm or 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 24 (Saturday) or 9.30am to 12.30pm on January 25 (Sunday)) stated in the letter.
Parents who are ePOA users may choose to submit the Central Allocation Application via the ePOA or in paper form to the Central Allocation Centre but should not submit duplicate applications. Parents who have not yet received the letter by January 19 should call the School Places Allocation Section of the EDB (Hotline: 2832 7700) as soon as possible.
Only one parent of an applicant child is required to complete the school choice-making procedures. Parents are advised not to take their children to the Central Allocation Centre if possible. Parents who cannot make school choices within the suggested time slot can go to the designated Central Allocation Centre from 1.30pm to 4.30pm on January 25. The Choice of Schools Form will be sent together with the letter to parents who have submitted a paper Application Form at the Discretionary Places stage for filling out in advance.
In the event of adverse weather or other special conditions on any day during the period of making school choices, please pay heed to radio or television announcements on the relevant special arrangements.
Unable to submit application within specified choice-making period
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For individual parents who are unable to use the ePOA or go to the Central Allocation Centre to make school choices, they can authorise in writing a representative to bring the completed Choice of Schools Form and their signed Letter of Authorisation to the Central Allocation Centre to proceed with the related procedures.
To apply for POA 2026 for their children after January 25, parents need to complete necessary procedures with the School Places Allocation Section, which will separately arrange P1 places for the applicant children in June.
Change of residential address
--------------------------------------
An EDB spokesman reminded parents that, if they have recently moved their residence or have such plans in the near future, they are required to inform the School Places Allocation Section as soon as possible so that they can make school choices in the POA School Net where their new home is located. Parents should fill in the actual residential address of their child. If they provide a false address for securing a P1 place, the POA application of their child will be rendered void and the P1 place allocated will be withdrawn.
The EDB has put in place a monitoring mechanism to verify the residential addresses of applicant children as given by the parents. Random checks have also been stepped up. The public may call the School Places Allocation Section to report suspected cases of using a false address by parents for their children's POA application. The EDB will take action against false address cases.
Mechanism of Central Allocation
----------------------------------------
Central Allocation is composed of two parts. Part A, which takes up 10 per cent of the P1 places earmarked for Central Allocation, is for unrestricted school choices. Parents can choose up to three government or aided primary schools in any school net. Part B takes up the remaining 90 per cent of the P1 places earmarked for Central Allocation. Parents of applicant children residing in the school net concerned are to select schools from the "Choice of Schools List for Central Allocation (Primary One Admission 2026)" of their school net, while parents of applicant children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong are to select schools from the "2026 Choice of Schools List for Central Allocation (For Applicant Children who intend to commute daily to schools in Hong Kong)". Parents should fill in the Choice of Schools Form in the order of their preference.
The mechanism of the Central Allocation is based on parents' choices in general. The computer-programmed allocation will first process the school choices in Part A and then the school choices in Part B. For oversubscribed schools, the order of priority in allocating places will be determined by random numbers generated by the computer for individual applicants to ensure fairness.
For information about the procedures for Central Allocation, please call the EDB's 24-hour automatic telephone enquiry service at 2891 0088.
Release of Central Allocation results
----------------------------------------------
For parents who have already activated their ePOA account via "iAM Smart" or "iAM Smart+", they will receive their Central Allocation results through the ePOA from 10am on June 3. Parents who wish to receive the allocation results via SMS on June 3 may choose such an option in the Choice of Schools Form. In addition, the allocation results will be sent to parents by post on June 3 and 4.
Source: AI-found images
