Opening remarks by SED at LegCo Finance Committee special meeting
Following is the English translation of the opening remarks by the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, at the special meeting of the Legislative Council Finance Committee today (April 16):
The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, Photo source: FB@Dr Choi Yuk-lin
Chairman,
Education is the key to nurturing talent. To proactively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) strives to develop Hong Kong into an international hub for education and high-calibre talent, and promote the integrated development of education, technology and talent, thereby contributing to the building of a leading country in education. In line with the national strategies of educational digitalisation and invigorating the country through science and education, we are also advancing digital education to cultivate a new generation of innovation and technology talent. The Government's expenditure on education is $112 billion in 2026-27, accounting for about 13.3 per cent of the total government expenditure. It includes $102.3 billion of recurrent education expenditure, around 17.1 per cent of the total recurrent government expenditure.
In order to consolidate and develop the unique advantages of Hong Kong's highly internationalised and diversified education system under "one country, two systems", we will continue to implement new initiatives in 2026/27 to promote the development of a high-quality education system.
For post-secondary education, we will make good use of the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong to promote Hong Kong's quality resources in academic studies, scientific research and international co-operation. The University Grants Committee (UGC) has allocated $40 million in the 2025-28 triennium to the eight UGC-funded universities to promote the "Study in Hong Kong" brand, with a view to attracting top-notch talent globally. Meanwhile, to further accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town, the Government will roll out three sites at the Hung Shui Kiu/Ha Tsuen New Development Area shortly for the UGC-funded universities and the universities of applied sciences to apply for development of campuses and related supporting facilities. The Government has also earmarked $10 billion for providing loans to support such projects in the Northern Metropolis.
The Education Bureau (EDB) has also intensified its efforts to promote digital education. In the 2025-28 triennium, the UGC-funded universities will introduce a total of 27 undergraduate programmes related to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), including AI, creative industries, and data science, to create opportunities for young people to make the most of their talent, and nurture professionals across various aspects by integrating technology with traditional disciplines through interdisciplinary curricula.
Regarding self-financing post-secondary education sector, starting from the 2027/28 academic year, we will give priority consideration to AI-related programmes under the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors to encourage institutions to be more proactive in offering such programmes to nurture innovation and technology talent for the digital era. We also support the Vocational Training Council in incorporating AI applications and related content into the compulsory generic information technology module of all Higher Diploma programmes, ensuring that the talent nurtured are equipped for future development trends.
Students in Hong Kong, Photo by Bastille Post
For primary and secondary education, the EDB will release the Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools this year. This will encompass strategies such as optimising the interface between primary and secondary curricula of information technology and innovation and technology education, setting out an AI literacy learning framework, and enhancing AI training for teachers to foster a digital education atmosphere on campus. In addition, the EDB has set aside $2 billion in the Quality Education Fund to support digital education in primary and secondary schools, covering curricula optimisation, teacher training enhancement, digital infrastructure optimisation, and provision of resource support to schools, etc, of which, approximately $500 million is earmarked for the AI for Empowering Learning and Teaching Funding Programme, a three-year initiative starting from the 2025/26 school year. Each successful publicly funded school applicant will receive a one-off funding of $500,000 to acquire essential equipment and tools for integrating AI into learning and teaching, implement school-based AI education projects, and subsidise students' participation in activities related to AI literacy.
The EDB set up the Task Force on Optimising Grants for Schools last year to reform and integrate various subsidies to schools in an innovative approach. Over the past year, the Task Force has deliberated on the usage of the various subsidies and consulted the education sector extensively. Based on the principles of streamlining administration and delegating authority; removing barriers and restrictions; enabling flexible deployment; increasing efficiency as well as using public funds prudently, the Task Force has come up with various enhancement measures to facilitate the development needs and long-term planning of kindergartens, primary and secondary schools.
We will continue to enhance and optimise education quality, while taking care of students' physical and mental well-being. We have regularised the Three tier School-based Emergency Mechanism in secondary schools and extended it on a trial basis to Primary Four to Six, to strengthen support for students in need. We will also continue to step up promotion of school mental health through the 4Rs Mental Health Charter, encourage more school personnel to receive training related to mental health first aid, and continue to provide "gatekeeper training" for parents.
Students in Hong Kong, Photo by Bastille Post
Teachers are the key to providing quality education. We have been enhancing the professional competencies and broadening the horizons of teachers and school principals through diversified professional development programmes and activities. In addition, we will enhance the teacher registration mechanism, and explore amending the Education Ordinance to introduce the practising certificate and regular renewal requirements, so as to ensure that all school teachers in Hong Kong are fit and proper persons, thus upholding the professionalism of the teaching force.
The Government is now drawing up a macroscopic, strategic and forward-looking five-year plan for the first time for Hong Kong. In the area of education development, we will map out more comprehensive and precise strategies, so as to strengthen Hong Kong's ability to attract high-calibre talent, promote high-quality development of education, and better integrate into and serve the overall national development by contributing with Hong Kong's strength.
This concludes my introduction. Thank you, Chairman.
Public healthcare fees and charges reform effectively strengthens protection for poor, acute, serious, and critical patients
The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:
The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson announced today (July 19) that the public healthcare fees and charges reform, which has been implemented for half a year, has not only effectively enhanced efficiency and reduced waste, but also significantly strengthened protection for poor, acute, serious, and critical patients. The HA will analyse the effectiveness of the Reform at this stage and study further reform measures to make the public healthcare system a safety net better safeguarding the health of the public.
The public healthcare fees and charges reform has yielded remarkable results in its measures to protect poor patients. The expansion of the medical fee waiver mechanism has drastically increased the potential number of beneficiaries from about 900 000 in the past to approximately 2 million. Since the implementation of the reform, the number of beneficiaries of medical fee waivers has surged. As of June 30, the HA had received a total of 289 799 applications, of which 264 087 were approved. The approval rate exceeded 90 per cent, which is nearly 19 times of approximately 14 000 patients who received medical fee waivers in the full year prior to the reform. Excluding those who have been benefiting from medical fee waivers both before and after the reform (including Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients, recipients of Old Age Living Allowance aged 75 or above, and holders of Level 0 Vouchers under the Residential Care Service Voucher Scheme for the Elderly), there were already about 900 000 patient attendances benefited from the enhanced medical fee waiver mechanism in the first half of this year, with the vast majority being fully waived.
Furthermore, the HA has introduced a cap on annual spending of $10,000 without requiring financial assessment, providing more comprehensive protection for members of the public who unfortunately suffer from serious or chronic illnesses, thereby protecting them from impoverishment due to illness. As of June 30, for the 10 595 patients whose applications were approved, all other eligible medical fees for the remainder of this financial year will be fully waived.
The public healthcare fees and charges reform has also strengthened subsidies for the application of innovative drugs and medical devices for critical patients. Over the past six months, the HA has incorporated 16 new drugs (including seven targeted therapy drugs for cancer treatment) into the HA Drug Formulary. Among them, six were included in the Special Drugs category, meaning patients only need to pay the standard drug fee (i.e. $20 every four weeks) under specific clinical applications; another five are self-financed drugs subsidised by the safety net. The estimated additional annual expenditure involved is $134 million.
In addition, during the same period, 17 newly added drugs/medical devices or relaxations of clinical indications (including 10 items related to cancer drugs) were covered under the scope of the Samaritan Fund (SF) subsidy, involving an estimated additional annual expenditure of $46 million. Concurrently, the HA will include another 10 newly added drugs or expanded clinical indications and 26 self-financed medical devices into the subsidy scope of the SF this month.
The reform has also relaxed the financial assessment criteria for SF subsidies, strengthening drug and medical device support for critical patients, including those from middle-income families. Compared with the same period in the first half of last year, the approved subsidy amounts for drug and non-drug items under the SF increased by about 22 per cent and 10 per cent to $1.28 billion and $220 million respectively. The number of approved applications for drug and non-drug items involving non-Comprehensive Social Security Assistance recipients increased by about 21per cent and 10per cent to about 4 500 and 2 100 cases respectively. Among them, the patient's contribution in about 1 070 drug subsidy cases decreased due to the relaxation of the Fund's application eligibility, while over 80 non-drug subsidy cases changed from generally not being subsidised by the Fund before the relaxation to receiving subsidies.
Following the implementation of the public healthcare fees and charges reform, the service and efficiency of Accident and Emergency Departments (A&Es) have also been enhanced. In the first six months of this year, a total of 913 248 attendances were recorded across the 18 A&Es under the HA, representing a decrease of 3.9per cent compared with the same period last year. Among them, priority treatment for Triage Category I (Critical) and Category II (Emergency) cases fully met the target, and these 44 522 attendances were fully exempted from A&E fees under the new fees and charges mechanism. The proportion of Triage Category III (Urgent) cases treated within 30 minutes meeting the service pledge target increased from 81.4per cent to 88.5per cent, with the average waiting time reduced from 23 to 20 minutes. Attendances for Triage Category IV (Semi-urgent) and Category V (Non-urgent) cases decreased by about 10per cent, with non-urgent cases dropping by about 20per cent.
The HA spokesperson added that following the implementation of the public healthcare fees and charges reform, the HA can deploy more resources to strengthen care for emergency patients and critical patients. A&Es focus resources on critical care, serving as the most effective protection for emergency patients. The HA's safety net also provides better protection for critical patients, with more effective medical devices and drugs with fewer side effects being included in the subsidy scope, thereby enhancing treatment efficacy.
These results reflect the positive impact of the fees and charges reform in guiding patients to use healthcare services appropriately, reducing default appointments and resource wastage, and improving the utilisation efficiency of public healthcare resources. Following the implementation of the new booking and payment arrangements in mid-April, the number of default appointments for Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and Ultrasonography scans between April and June this year decreased by about 28per cent, 40per cent, and 35per cent respectively compared with the same period last year. Preliminary estimates suggest that these improvements equate to an annual saving of about 6 000 CT, 2 500 MRI, and 9 000 ultrasonography appointments, which is roughly equivalent to the annual service capacity of one CT scanner, one MRI scanner, and two ultrasound scanners. This further enhances examination capacity and resource utilisation efficiency, allowing patients in need to undergo examinations sooner.
Patients' habits when using public healthcare services have also changed, as they have become more prudent in utilising limited services and resources. Taking the habit of collecting "as needed" medications (such as artificial tears or topical preparations for pain) as an example, as of June 30, the demand for "as needed" medications has generally dropped by about 12per cent compared with the same period last year.
The HA spokesperson stressed that the data clearly reflects the correct direction of the public healthcare fees and charges reform, which is yielding initial results. In accordance with the policies of the Health Bureau, the HA is summarising the reform experience at this stage to prepare for the next phase of the public healthcare fees and charges reform, progressing step by step in the direction of the reform to continuously enhance public healthcare services for the benefit of patients.
Source: AI-found images
