TAC Chairman welcomes traffic and transport-related initiatives in Budget
The following is issued on behalf of the Transport Advisory Committee:
The Chairman of the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC), Professor Wong Sze-chun, today (February 25) welcomed the traffic and transport-related initiatives set out in the Financial Secretary's 2026-27 Budget.
Professor Wong said, "This year's Budget mentioned the recently announced Transport Strategy Blueprint, reinforcing the Government's commitment to the Blueprint and the sustainable development of Hong Kong's transport sector. The Budget places significant emphasis on advancing technological applications, including expediting the development of autonomous driving into driverless mode and scaling up its operations. The announcement of the Airportcity Link autonomous transport system coming into operation this year exemplifies the Government's efforts in accelerating the commercialisation of autonomous vehicle technology. Additionally, the Transport Department will explore setting up a traffic management platform that further integrates the use of AI and big data analysis, enabling comprehensive real-time traffic monitoring and improving management efficiency. The TAC fully endorses the Government's adoption of new technologies in the transport sector, enhancing the commuting experience of the public.
"Robust transportation infrastructure and systems form the cornerstone of sustained economic development. The Budget highlights the forming of the 'Eight Vertical and Eight Horizontal' layout with a series of key infrastructure projects, including railways, major roads, and Smart and Green Mass Transit System projects. These projects encompass the transport infrastructure linked to the Northern Metropolis, which is being expedited for completion. These developments will significantly bolster Hong Kong's connectivity and provide a substantial boost to the local economy.
"The TAC remains committed to providing recommendations on various traffic and transport policies and measures to the Government. Furthermore, I look to the Government to leverage Hong Kong's distinctive strengths by continuously refining transport infrastructure and systems, thereby fostering a more conducive business environment through improved mobility."
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Education Commission Chairman welcomes 2026-27 Budget
The following is issued on behalf of the Education Commission:
The Chairman of the Education Commission, Dr David Wong, today (February 25) welcomed the measures on education proposed by the Financial Secretary in the 2026-27 Budget.
Dr Wong said, "Education is the cornerstone of talent cultivation and is particularly crucial in building Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent. As the Chairman of the Education Commission, I am pleased to note the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government attaches great importance to education. After considering the overall public fiscal situation, the Government continues to invest substantially in education, optimising the use of resources to focus on enhancing the quality of education and turning Hong Kong into a magnet for vibrant talent. The recurrent expenditure on education has increased by 28 per cent over the past decade. With allocations reaching $102.3 billion for recurrent education expenditure in 2026-27, it accounts for around 17.1 per cent of the total government recurrent expenditure. These figures clearly demonstrate the continued strong support for the education sector in public resource allocation. Regarding the optimisation of resource utilisation, I welcome the Education Bureau (EDB)'s efforts to remove barriers and ease restrictions through streamlining administration for school subsidies to enable more flexible and efficient use of resources. I trust that the education resources will be deployed effectively to achieve maximum benefits."
Dr Wong added, "I fully support the Government's ongoing efforts to advance the digitalisation of education, including the promotion of digital education and artificial intelligence training on all fronts, to cultivate more innovation and technology talent for the digital era. Regarding higher education, I look forward to the Government's proactive development of the Northern Metropolis University Town through site allocation and support earmarking $10 billion in loans for the University Grants Committee-funded universities and the universities of applied sciences to support new campus development and construction, further advancing Hong Kong's development into an international education hub.
"I firmly believe that the EDB will maintain close communication with stakeholders, and jointly elevate Hong Kong's education quality as well as nurturing more elite talent, thereby contributing to the high-quality development of Hong Kong and our nation," Dr Wong said.
Source: AI-found images
