The Fifth Meeting of the Fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission Advances Talent Strategies and Reform for Workforce Development

Fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission convenes fifth meeting

The fifth meeting of the fourth-term Human Resources Planning Commission was held today (March 30). The meeting discussed the reform of the Employees Retraining Board (ERB), the 2025 work highlights and 2026 plan of Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) under the Labour and Welfare Bureau, as well as the policy measures and promotional strategies of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area DevelopmentOffice (GBA Office) under the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau and HKTE in fostering collaboration within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) to attract overseas talent.

The Government has been enhancing local training in response to social development and trends in manpower demand. The ERB is undertaking a comprehensive reform: in addition to the employment-related training now being provided to grassroots workers, the ERB will also enhance its role in devising skillsbased training programmes and strategies for the entire workforce, promoting continuous learning and skills development for all. The 2026-27 Budget announced that the ERB will be upgraded as Upskill Hong Kong, providing various types of skills-based training courses, including AI applications. The ERB will officially change its name upon completion of the relevant legislative amendments.

At the meeting, the ERB briefed members on the latest progress of its reform. Members were pleased to note that Upskill Hong Kong will continue its vital mission of serving local grassroots workers, while strengthening its research capabilities and establishing a skills-based training framework. The ERB will prioritise the "eight centres" and nine significant sectors in developing training services. It will develop new emerging skills training courses tailored to enterprises' transformation needs, including strengthening the integration of AI knowledge and application technologies into the course curriculum to help the workforce adapt to changes in the workplace. Members supported the work plan of Upskill Hong Kong in promoting the continuous learning and skills development for all, and provided feedback on the relevant work.

To continuously enrich the local talent pool, on the premises of strengthening local training and ensuring priority employment for local workers, the Government is also actively recruiting outside talent. Established in 2023, HKTE facilitates the settlement and integration of talent into the community. At the meeting, HKTE briefed members on its work highlights for 2025 and its plans for 2026. Members supported HKTE's global talent recruitment and promotional efforts, and welcomed its increasing diversification of services in supporting incoming talent. HKTE also reported on the success of the Global Talent Summit Week held this month, which brought together a Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences and leaders from the political, business and academia sectors worldwide to discuss future talent trends, foster cross-sectoral and cross-regional collaboration, thereby showcasing Hong Kong's dual role as an international talent hub and the country's gateway for talent.

Members were also briefed by the GBA Office and HKTE on the policy measures and promotional strategies for attracting overseas talent through collaboration within the GBA. The Government has implemented initiatives to facilitate the southbound and northbound two-way flow of Mainland and Hong Kong high-calibre talent, as well as to facilitate the entry of Hong Kong professionals into the Mainland market. Looking ahead, the GBA Office and HKTE will continue to conduct visits abroad and to other Mainland cities to promote the opportunities brought about by the development of the GBA to attract outstanding overseas and Mainland talent to capitalise on the distinctive advantages and position of Hong Kong under the "one country, two systems" principle, building Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent. Members affirmed the above work and expressed views on promoting talent mobility within the region.

Photo source: reference image

CS concludes visit to Shaanxi Province

The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, visited Shaanxi Province for two consecutive days from yesterday (April 4), where he called on local leaders and exchanged views with officials on strengthening the development of various aspects between the two places, including cultural exchanges, educational co-operation, and innovation and technology.

Mr Chan called on the Secretary of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee, Mr Zhao Yide, yesterday to exchange views on deepening Hong Kong-Shaanxi exchanges and co-operation. The Executive Deputy Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, Mr Xu Qifang, also attended the meeting. Mr Chan said that since the signing of the Strengthening Hong Kong/Shaanxi Co-operation Agreement and a series of Memoranda of Understanding in areassuch as legal services, innovation and technology, education, and tourism in 2024, exchanges and co-operation between Hong Kong and Shaanxi have yielded fruitful results under the support of the Central Government and through the joint efforts of both places. He added that co-operation in various aspects between the two places, in particular in the areas of cultural exchanges, educational co-operation, and innovation and technology, can be strengthened to achieve complementary advantages in the future.

During the meeting, Mr Chan expressed his gratitude for the invitation by the Shaanxi Provincial People's Government to the memorial ceremony for legendary emperor Huang Di during the Ching Ming Festival. He said that the event was significant, connecting descendants of the Yan and Huang emperors from around the world to worship together the earliest mythical ruler Huang Di, and to pass on the good moral quality of treasuring historical legacies for the Chinese nation. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's participation can help Hong Kong citizens to gain a deeper understanding of the origin of the Chinese civilisation, building a stronger sense of national identity and affection. He also expressed hope for strengthening co-operation in patriotic education with Shaanxi in the future, enabling Hong Kong citizens, especially the younger generation, to gain a deeper understanding of and identification with the nation and Chinese culture.

Mr Chan concluded his visit to Shaanxi Province after attending the memorial ceremony for legendary emperor Huang Di during the Ching Ming Festival this morning, and returned to Hong Kong this afternoon.

CS concludes visit to Shaanxi Province Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS concludes visit to Shaanxi Province Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS concludes visit to Shaanxi Province Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

CS concludes visit to Shaanxi Province Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases