Speech by DCS at HK Institute of Human Resource Management HR Excellence Awards 2025/26 awards presentation ceremony and gala dinner
Following is the speech by the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at theHong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management (HKIHRM) HR Excellence Awards 2025/26 awards presentation ceremony and gala dinner tonight (March 19):
President Ian Choy (Mr Ian Choy, President and Advisor of the Awards Organising Committee, HKIHRM),Vice President TheresaLui (Ms Theresa Lui, Vice President and Chairperson of theAwards Organising Committee, HKIHRM),Vice President AndyLuk (Mr Andy Luk, Vice President, HKIHRM), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good evening. It is my great pleasure to join you this evening at the Hong Kong Institute of Human Resource Management HR Excellence Awards presentation ceremony, as part of the Global Talent Summit Week.
My heartfelt congratulations to the HKIHRM for hosting this meaningful ceremony, honouring organisations and professionals whose unwavering dedication and outstanding achievements have elevated the human resources profession in Hong Kong.
Talent is our most valuable asset and the engine of our future success. Exceptional talent is like a powerful vessel, but even the strongest ship needs favourable winds to reach its destination. Here in Hong Kong, we provide those tailwinds, acting as a catalyst to recognise ambition and offer a global stage for talent to work, live and prosper.
The National 15th Five-Year Plan provides a clear direction for Hong Kong's future, with a strong emphasis on the integration of education, technology and talent to drive high-quality development.
In proactive alignment, the Chief Executive is leading all the government bureaux to formulate the first Five-Year Plan for Hong Kong, to outline a macro, strategic and forward-looking roadmap for Hong Kong's development over the coming five years. Ultimately, it will facilitate the city's deeper integration into the country's overall development by consolidating our roles as an international financial, shipping, trade, and innovation and technology centre, and building Hong Kong as an international hub for high-calibre talent.
Tonight's ceremony celebrates not only organisational accomplishments but also the collective progress of Hong Kong's HR community in fostering inclusive and high-performing workplace cultures. The award-winning organisations exemplify visionary leadership and innovative HR practices. They have demonstrated a strong commitment to nurturing local professionals and retaining overseas talent, creating a powerful synergy where local expertise and global professionals combine to produce results far greater than the sum of their parts.
And this synergy has borne fruit. According to the IMD (International Institute for Management Development) World Talent Ranking 2025, Hong Kong has surged to fourth place globally - our highest-ever ranking - and first in Asia. This amply reflects our growing status as an international hub for high-calibre talent.
To further strengthen our global outreach and support services, the Government established Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) in 2023. The agency is dedicated to worldwide promotion, talent recruitment and comprehensive one-stop support to help talent settle in Hong Kong, from job-matching support to community connections.
HKTE's efforts depend crucially on the strong support of the wider community and professional bodies like the HKIHRM. The Government will join hands with the community to advance local professionals' development and overseas talent retention, and establish Hong Kong as the country's gateway for talent.
In closing, I extend my sincere congratulations to all awardees and finalists. Just as we provide the favourable winds for exceptional talent to realise their full potential, your achievements continue to strengthen those winds for future generations. I trust the achievements recognised this year will continue to inspire the wider HR community to scale even greater heights. Thank you, and I wish you all a wonderful evening.
