Hong Kong's Global Talent Summit Week Highlights City's Role as International Talent Hub

Global Talent Summit Week fosters integration of education, technology and talent to support Hong Kong in building international hub for high-calibre talent

The Global Talent Summit Week (GTS Week) organised by Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) commenced today (March 18). Its flagship events, the International Talent Forum and the CareerConnect Expo, will be held over two consecutive days. From now until March 29, HKTE will collaborate with local and overseas partners to host nine satellite events focusing on the integration of education, technology and talent. The GTS Week highlights Hong Kong's position and advantages as an international talent hub and the country's gateway for talent.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, officiated at the opening ceremony of the GTS Week and delivered the opening address. He said that Hong Kong is fast rising as an international talent hub, driven by a comprehensive and forward-looking strategy that integrates talent development with economic transformation, technological advancement and regional co-operation. Such efforts have been widely recognised, with Hong Kong rising to fourth globally and first in Asia in the International Institute for Management Development's World Talent Ranking 2025.

Mr Lee said that Hong Kong will continue to uphold openness, deepen international engagement and align closely with national development strategies. Policies in education, innovation and infrastructure will be further refined to ensure Hong Kong remains a fertile ground for ideas and enterprises, where global talent feels welcomed, valued and supported. He stressed that while economic indicators and technological achievements are important, human development remains the ultimate goal, and Hong Kong will continue to place people at the centre of its vision for the future.

Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Mr Yu Jiadong stated in his speech that talent is the primary resource for economic and social development. Building a national high-calibre talent hub is the top-level design and strategic plan, to accelerate the building of a strong country with talent. In recent years, Hong Kong has been fully committed to boosting the economy, proactively attracting talent, leveraging the role as the country's gateway for talent. This year's GTS Week has successfully established an important platform for all parties to exchange experiences, providing strong support for accelerating the development of a high-calibre talent hub.He emphasised the need to jointly build a talent hub, share talent dividends, and foster an open, inclusive, and complementary talent ecosystem, ensuring that these benefits better serve both Hong Kong and the Mainland, ultimately contributing to the nation's prosperity.

This year's International Talent Forum, themed "Connecting Global Minds", brings together leaders from government, business and academia from Hong Kong and abroad to discuss future trends and strategies within the talent ecosystem.

Professor Christopher A Pissarides, a 2010 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences, delivered a keynote speech on the future of work in a changing world. He said, "Artificial intelligence is not intended to replace human labour, but to enhance capabilities, drive productivity growth and improve overall well-being. To meet this technological transformation, it is essential to promote lifelong learning and help talent prepare for the future. As a global financial and trade centre, Hong Kong can leverage the Greater Bay Area's advantages as a hub for innovation hardware and industrial artificial intelligence to attract more young talent and build itself into an international innovation and technology centre."

The Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Winfried Engelbrecht-Bresges, shared in a featured speech on how the Jockey Club reinforces its position as an ideal employer to attract global high-calibre talent. He also elaborated on strategies for nurturing potential employees into leaders and retaining talent. The Chairman of McKinsey & Company Greater China, Mr Joe Ngai, and the Chief Development Officer of the South China Morning Post, Mr Eugene Tang, then engaged in a fireside chat exploring the new talent equation for China in the next era of tech and AI models.

Three panel discussions were held in the afternoon, focusing on education, technology and talent respectively. In the education session, the President of Peking University, Professor Gong Qihuang; the President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Nancy Ip; Professor of Higher Education (Emeritus) at the University of Oxford Professor Simon Marginson; and the American President and Executive Vice Chancellor of Duke Kunshan University, Professor John Quelch, discussed the paradigm shift in education and talent strategy in the future. They also shared insights on fostering innovation and nurturing talent through cross-border collaboration and industry partnerships.

In the technology session, the Chief AI Officer and Director of the Labour Market Information Department, Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, United Arab Emirates, Mr Omran AlShamsi; the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of KESK, Ms Basima Abdulrahman; the Chief Executive Officer of AlipayHK and General Manager of Greater China at Ant International, Ms Venetia Lee; Co-founder and the Chief Scientist of SenseTime Group Limited, Dr Lin Dahua; and the Group President of Animoca Brands, Mr Evan Auyang, explored the identification of emerging capabilities, team hiring and development, as well as forward-looking strategies to provide innovative solutions for the sustainable development of the global technology and talent ecosystem, thereby addressing future international challenges and opportunities.

The talent session featured the Vice President of Talent Solutions of Asia Pacific at LinkedIn, Ms Ruchee Anand; the Managing Director of Global Partnerships and Client Solutions, and Chief Representative of Beijing Representative Office at CFA Institute, Mr Paul Moody; Group Executive of Artificial Intelligence of SEEK Mr Grant Wright; and Group Chief People and Culture Officer at DFI Retail Group Ms Joy Xu. They shared insights on how AI and digital technology are reshaping talent strategies, and elaborated on how Hong Kong can reinforce its role as a "super connector", linking the Chinese Mainland with the world, to further strengthen its position as an international talent hub.

In addition, HKTE premiered its latest promotional video during the GTS Week's opening session. The video features four talents with diverse backgrounds currently living and working in Hong Kong. They share how they are utilising the city's international and multicultural platform and its liveable environment to further their careers while enjoying a diverse lifestyle with their families, truly "orchestrating achievements" in Hong Kong. The video also highlights Hong Kong's unique advantages of being backed by the motherland and connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle, demonstrating the city's irreplaceable appeal to global talent.

Prior to the GTS Week's opening session, the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, accompanied Mainland official delegates to tour the concurrently running CareerConnect Expo. They visited the HKTE exhibition area, as well as the thematic zones for education, technology and talent.

The GTS Week will continue tomorrow (March 19). The International Talent Forum will be webcast live, and the CareerConnect Expo will be open from 10am to 5.30pm tomorrow at Hall 3F of the Hong Kon Convention and Exhibition Centre. Satellite events under the GTS Week are also taking place concurrently. Interested parties can visit the GTS Week website (gts.hkengage.gov.hk) or HKTE's social media platforms for more details.

The Global Talent Summit Week organised by Hong Kong Talent Engage commenced today (March 18) and will run through March 29, focusing on the integrated development of education, technology and talent. Photo shows the CareerConnect Expo attracting global talent to participate. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Global Talent Summit Week organised by Hong Kong Talent Engage commenced today (March 18) and will run through March 29, focusing on the integrated developement of education, technology and talent. Photo shows the Nobel Laureate, Professor Christopher A Pissarides, delivering his keynote speech at the International Talent Forum. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Global Talent Summit Week organised by Hong Kong Talent Engage commenced today (March 18) and will run through March 29, focusing on the integrated development of education, technology and talent. Photo shows a panel discussion at the International Talent Forum. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Global Talent Summit Week organised by Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) commenced today (March 18) and will run through March 29, focusing on the integrated development of education, technology and talent. Photo shows (from left) the Director of Bureau IV of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Chen Wei; the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Mr Yu Jiadong; the Director of Immigration, Mr Benson Kwok; and the Director of HKTE, Mr Felix Chan, in front of the HKTE booth at the CareerConnect Expo. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Global Talent Summit Week organised by Hong Kong Talent Engage commenced today (March 18) and will run through March 29, focusing on the integrated development of education, technology and talent. Photo shows Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Mr Yu Jiadong delivering his speech at the Summit. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the Global Talent Summit Week today (March 18). Photo shows (front row, from third left) the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun; Nobel Laureate and Regius Professor of Economics of the Department of Economics of London School of Economics, Professor Christopher A Pissarides; Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security Mr Yu Jiadong; Mr Lee; the President of Peking University, Professor Gong Qihuang, and other guests at the ceremony. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, attended the Global Talent Summit Week today (March 18). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming passenger was sentenced to 29 days of imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (May 23) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted the incoming 58-year-old male passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point yesterday (May 22) and seized 1 981 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes from him. The estimated market value of the seized cigarettes was about $8,100, and the duty potential was about $6,500. He was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence, noting that even a first-time offender may still be imprisoned. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences. Members of the public should not defy the law.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases