Bastille's Report: C15+ Strengthens Professional Collaboration to Integrate Education, Technology, and Innovation in Line with the 15th Five-Year Plan

The new Legislative Council’s “C15+” group comprises 13 LegCo Members without party affiliation. Continuing the characteristics of professional collaboration, Deputy Convenor Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong, stated in the interview with Bastille Post that members from diverse professional backgrounds can complement each other in political participation and bill discussions. The group this year has brought together professionals from the education and innovation sectors, with a focus on integrating education, technology, and talent to align with the 15th Five-Year Plan and the development of the Northern Metropolis.

"C15+" was established by Members of the previous Legislative Council. At the time, the members worked in CITIC Tower, with many of them on the 15th floor.  Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong explained that the "+" stands for "synergy", symbolizing "1+1 greater than 2", which reflects the hope that members can support one another and complement each other's strengths—hence the name.

Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong, Photo by Bastille Post

The current "C15+" is convened by Ir Hon Chan Siu-hung and comprises 13 members: Ir Hon Chan Siu-hung, Hon Andrew Lam Siu-lo, Hon Yang Wing-kit, Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong, Prof Hon Lau Chi-pang, Prof Hon William Wong Kam-fai, Hon Leung Man-kwong, Hon Tang Fei, Hon Ng Wun-kit, Hon Ken Wong Kam-leung, Dr Hon Thomas So Shiu-tsung, Dr Hon Webster Ng Kam-wah and Hon Christine Fong Kwok-shan. The majority of its members come from Election Committee constituency, while others are from Functional constituencies and Geographical constituencies.

Deputy Convenor Hon Andrew Lam Siu-lo stated that members from Election Committee constituency would have professional backgrounds. In contrast, members from Geographical constituencies would be grounded and practical when considering livelihood issues—they truly understand the public's pain points. The interaction of different viewpoints allows the group to position itself, refine, and promote government policies through discussion. When scrutinizing legislation, we would have a more open perspective." He pointed out that Ir Hon Chan Siu-hung, who was previously hospitalized in Australia due to a sudden illness, has returned to Hong Kong to recuperate and will resume his council duties as soon as possible.

Dr Hon Thomas So Shiu-tsung pointed out that since the current C15+ members all work on the same floor, it is easy for them to communicate on issues of common interest. "For instance, I have a project underway—an online pro bono legal consultation service. Many members have suggested collaborating since our goals are aligned for serving the public." He described that members would reach consensus through "communication, respect, and collaboration," and the exchange of expertise across different sectors would generate new ideas.

Dr Hon Thomas So Shiu-tsung, Photo by Bastille Post

No Binding Vote Amid Diverse Views

Regarding whether C15+ would impose binding votes on its members, members stated that C15+ is not a political group, much less a political party. They enjoy a high degree of freedom when voting on bills—there is no culture of binding votes, nor are they required to propose uniform legislation. "It's possible that on the same issue, both supportive and opposing views may emerge simultaneously."

Hon Andrew Lam Siu-lo pointed out, "We do have discussions, and of course, there is a chance that we might influence each other's decisions during the process, but there will definitely not be a so-called political group meeting to decide how to vote."

C15+ has raised proposal deliberations of The Budget. Photo source: reference image

Dr Hon Webster Ng Kam-wah noted that C15+ members come from diverse backgrounds, each reflecting the views of their respective sectors. He cited an example from the earlier proposal deliberations of The Budget, where the members held differing opinions on the property value cap for HKD$100 stamp duty. "Actually, there's no problem with that," he said, "because there are different professional perspectives and their own insights; we should seek common ground while reserving differences."

Dr Hon Webster Ng Kam-wah, Photo by Bastille Post

He described that meeting with officials on a given issue would make it easier to integrate perspectives from different sectors. "In Geographical constituencies, each region has its own issues. As I come from the accountancy functional constituency, I might focus on accounting or financial concerns." Besides, Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong also stated that the assembly of C15+ increases their chances of joining committees. "When meeting with officials to express our views, we can participate together—this is its greatest strength."

Pooling Education and I&T Talents, No Joint Bill Plans Yet

Currently, C15+ has no plans to jointly propose bills as a collective. Hon Andrew Lam Siu-lo  pointed out, "We also need to consider the current and future priorities of society, and what aspects we can help drive progress."

Since the current C15+ includes a large number of members specializing in education and technology, covering four Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers (HKFEW) LegCo Members, as well as innovation and technology professionals such as Prof Hon William Wong Kam-fai and Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong, the group has reached a consensus to focus on the organic integration of education, talent, and technology to promote economic and social development. Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong stated that the integration of "education, technology, and talent" is a key development priority for both the nation and Hong Kong. The 15th Five-Year Plan also places strong emphasis on emerging and future industries. "Our network includes NPC deputies and Members of the CPPCC. In addition to supporting the integration of education and technology development within the Legislative Council to cultivate and attract innovation and technology talent for Hong Kong, and cooperating with the HKSAR Government in attracting investment and helping businesses expand overseas, we can also provide substantial advice and support at the national level."

Prof Hon Lau Chi-pang, Photo by Bastille Post

Prof Hon Lau Chi-pang, President of HKFEW, stated that he hopes to further expand the capacity of Hong Kong's education industry and consolidate its position as an international hub for higher education during his tenure. This includes continuing to promote open access to basic education and increasing the proportion of non-local students. He revealed that the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) and relevant government departments have prepared preliminary work on the "International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) examination" and expressed hope for a breakthrough in primary and secondary school student admissions. Lau noted that C15+ provides a platform for communication and cooperation, where he will collaborate with other HKFEW members on joint initiatives and exchange ideas with Prof Hon William Wong Kam-fai, who also comes from the higher education sector. Previously, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, the Secretary for Education, indicated that, to support the development of "Study in Hong Kong" and "Study in China", the government is working with mainland authorities to develop an "international version of the DSE curriculum" as a university entrance examination for non-local students.

Future Key Focuses: Northern Metropolis & AI, Push for Big Data Bureau

The 15th Five-Year Plan emphasizes accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis. Prof Hon Lau Chi-pang stated that the Northern Metropolis can integrate resources from both the education and technology sectors. Therefore, he will continue to focus on the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town, promoting the integration of education, technology, and talent, as well as the implementation of industry-academia-research-investment collaboration.

As a LegCo Member with a background in construction, surveying, planning, and industrial development, Hon Andrew Lam Siu-lo also focuses on the region's macroeconomic development. He pointed out that the Northern Metropolis can drive economic and innovation industry transformation, preserve the natural environment, and attract talent, allowing the social and natural ecosystems to complement each other. He will continue to push the government to establish a "Big Data Bureau" to ensure the coordinated development of hardware and software in the Northern Metropolis.

Hon Andrew Lam Siu-lo, Photo by Bastille Post

With the rapid development of emerging technology applications, the impact and benefits of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics technology on various industries are also a key focus for C15+ members. Previously, Dr Hon Johnny Ng Kit-chong and 14 other LegCo Members established the "Subcommittee on Matters Relating to the Development of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics" under the Legislative Council's House Committee, which includes six C15+ members. He stated, "This was a collaborative effort by many colleagues from C15+. We're discussing talent—how will AI impact human resource needs? What should the government do to provide those affected with higher-end career opportunities? The subcommittee, comprised of members from C15+, is researching this issue to help the government prepare early for the arrival of the AI and robotics era."

As the former President of The Law Society of Hong Kong, Dr Hon Thomas So Shiu-tsung is also actively promoting legal technology development and is currently developing an online platform to provide free legal consultation services to the public, aiming to enhance the accessibility of legal services. He indicated that he will initially focus on livelihood issues as a pilot, with plans to be launched this year, and will then expand to other areas depending on the results. Meanwhile, Dr Hon Webster Ng Kam-wah stated that he will focus mainly on the most pressing issues facing the industry, such as the operational challenges of regulatory agencies, enabling the industry to better align with the 15th Five-Year Plan under effective regulation. He highlighted efforts to provide professional services, including assisting companies in overseas expansion and listings, as well as relaunching research and reviving the limited liability reform initiative.

LegCo Secretariat releases Policy Pulse on "Northern Metropolis: Accelerating development through industry-driven momentum"

The following is issued on behalf of the Legislative Council Secretariat:

The Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan approved by the National People's Congress this month expresses explicit support for expediting the development of the Northern Metropolis (NM). The development of the NM, which accounts for approximately one-third of Hong Kong's total land area and planned population, has entered a new stage, with the focus now on expediting construction works, as well as promoting the entry and operation of industries. The Legislative Council (LegCo) Secretariat today (March 25) released the latest issue of the Policy Pulse on "Northern Metropolis: Accelerating development through industry-driven momentum". This issue provides a brief overview on the latest developments in the NM, including the enactment of dedicated legislation for the NM, the status of supporting industries in establishing a presence in the region, the layout of an innovation and technology (I&T) ecosystem, the planning for the University Town, transport infrastructure, and the concurrent pursuit of development and conservation. It also summarizes the relevant discussions in LegCo and suggestions by Members.

The Government has introduced a series of specific initiatives to support the development of the NM. Since the inception of the Eighth LegCo, Members have actively offered constructive advice and suggestions for the development of the NM, including setting up the Subcommittee on Matters Relating to the Development of the NM, conducting a thematic policy briefing session on the development of the NM, as well as passing a Member's motion on expediting the development of the NM last month. LegCo will launch a series of duty visits to the NM, with the first visit taking place tomorrow (March 26), to enable Members to put forward more precise and targeted policy recommendations based on first-hand information.

Yesterday (March 24), the Government began a 2-month public consultation on introducing dedicated legislation for the NM, with a view to introducing the bill into LegCo for First Reading in mid-2026. The LegCo Panel on Development was also consulted on the matter. The proposed dedicated legislation has three main objectives, namely to further remove barriers in respect of planning and lands procedures, to expedite construction works, and to facilitate industry operation. The Policy Pulse details the relaxation measures in six major areas under the dedicated legislation, as well as Members' views and suggestions on the proposed legislation. Members hope that the Government strengthen communication and publicity during the legislative process and before presenting the subsidiary legislation. They also suggest that the dedicated legislation should dovetail with the Regulations of Hetao Shenzhen Park enacted by Shenzhen to support Shenzhen-Hong Kong joint scientific research and the cross-boundary use of capital, thereby giving full play to the unique advantages of "one zone, two parks".

The Policy Pulse also highlights that the development of the NM is market driven, industry-oriented and diversed. Positioned as a hub for high-end professional services and logistics, the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area is one of the first areas in the NM to be taken forward for development. The Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park Company Limited (Park Company), established in January this year, is tasked to lead the development and operation of the around 23-hectare industry park under a commercially flexible model. The Government plans to seek the LegCo Finance Committee's approval in the second quarter of 2026 for injecting $10 billion into the Park Company as its start-up capital. Members consider that the Government should clarify the substantive differences between the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park, the Science Park and Cyberport in their autonomy in attracting enterprises and investment, and also their mode of operation. They also highlight the need to avoid functional overlap or competitions between the Hung Shui Kiu Industry Park and the San Tin Technopole. Moreover, Members also propose the Park Company should make flexible use of methods such as capital participation, profit-sharing, rental exemptions or business matching when co-operating with enterprises and avoid confining itself to the mode of property leasing.

On building an I&T ecosystem, the Policy Pulse notes that there is a delineation of functions and collaboration among the core zone of the NM, where the Hetao Hong Kong Park focuses on research and development in the upstream and midstream sectors, the San Tin Technopole serves as a pilot production and transformation platform, while the Sandy Ridge Data Facility Cluster Site is positioned as a computing infrastructure hub. Members propose developing Hetao and the San Tin Technopole into an integrated energy system featuring green electricity, computing power and low-carbon emissions, as well as leveraging green electricity, computing power and low-carbon emission to support the NM to ensure the NM's energy supply is moderately ahead of demand. Members also propose incorporating the San Tin Technopole into the Hetao Co-operation Zone so as to secure more policy resources, and allow the San Tin Technopole to benefit from the cross-boundary facilitation measures for Hetao.

The Policy Pulse points out that to align with the development of the I&T industry and to promote Hong Kong as an international hub for post-secondary education, the NM University Town has been expanded to about 100 hectares. Meanwhile, the site formation works for the first batch of 9 hectares of land in Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen earmarked for the NM University Town will be completed this year, with the area positioned to host high-end professional services and vocational and professional education. Members are of the view that proactive efforts should be made to attract top-notch international institutions and research institutions to establish a base in the University Town. A dedicated agency should also be set up to coordinate overseas student recruitment and talent attraction efforts. Members also urge that the planning of the University Town be coordinated with the development of neighbouring industry land, forming an integrated and synergistic industry-academia-research pattern, so as to encourage universities and enterprises to jointly develop I&T platforms, thereby fostering the rapid transformation of research outcomes into industry applications.

The Policy Pulse also notes the transport infrastructure planning for the NM and the coexistence of development and nature conservation in the area. The proposed dedicated legislation for the NM stipulates that the arrangements for streamlined town planning procedures do not apply to land that are classified as conservation zones. Members support the Government's gradual resumption of private wetlands and fish ponds, integrating them with adjacent government land to connect Mai Po, the Wetland Park and Long Valley, thereby forming a wetland conservation park system. Members also propose the early planning of drone take-off and landing sites and cross-boundary flight routes in the NM, developing the NM into a testing ground and hub for the low-altitude economy.

The detailed content of "Northern Metropolis: Accelerating development through industry-driven momentum" is available on the LegCo Website. The Policy Pulse, published by the Council Business Divisions of the LegCo Secretariat, covers specific topics and offers a comprehensive overview of related policy developments and summarizes discussions in LegCo.

Source: AI-found images