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.
Secretary for Health attends World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 in Beijing
The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, led a delegation to attend the World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 held in Beijing today (October 17) to have in-depth discussions and exchanges with senior health officials from around the world, as well as experts and academics in the traditional medicine field on issues related to traditional medicine, including legislation, policy and regulation, scientific research, talent cultivation, empowerment of artificial intelligence, as well as promotion of integration of traditional medicine into healthcare service systems.
The conference is jointly organised by the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, the National Health Commission (NHC), the National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine and the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in collaboration with the World Health Organization. At the opening ceremony, Professor Lo listened to Premier Li Qiang's keynote speech. Speaking at the panel discussions of the traditional medicine government forum, Professor Lo shared with attendees the strategic direction for integrating Chinese medicine (CM) into the healthcare system in Hong Kong.
Professor Lo said, "CM is a treasure of Chinese civilisation. The National 15th Five-Year Plan emphasises the promotion of CM heritage and innovation. It also explicitly calls for improving the CM service system, enhancing primary care-level CM services, and developing integrated Chinese-Western medicine services. To fully align with the country’s vision, the Chief Executive expressly pointed out in the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) (2026-2030) (Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan) and the 2026 Policy Address announced last month that Hong Kong will promote comprehensive, high-quality, and high-standard development of CM, thereby ensuring Hong Kong seamlessly aligns with the national development strategy of building a 'Healthy China'.
"The HKSAR Government will step up efforts to promote the development of CM. Through the two flagship institutions, The Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong (CMHHK) and the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, Hong Kong will strive to promote pure CM and integrated Chinese-Western medicine services as the 'Hong Kong model' in the modern healthcare system. Furthermore, by further advancing local integrated Chinese and Western medicine services and CM talent cultivation, fostering international research collaboration in herb-drug interaction, and establishing rigorous quality standards for Chinese herbal medicines, Hong Kong will fully leverage our role as a bridgehead to provide a high-standard reference model for the world," he added.
During the conference, Professor Lo and his delegation met with Vice Minister of the NHC Mr Zheng Zhe, and the Commissioner of the NMPA, Mr Huang Guo, respectively to introduce to them the healthcare-related policies in Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the Policy Address.
Professor Lo said to Mr Zheng, "With our high-quality healthcare professionals and highly efficient healthcare system, Hong Kong boasts a number of world-leading health indicators, and is among the regions with the longest life expectancies in the world. Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan is interconnected with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. In line with the strategic initiative of accelerating the building of a 'Healthy China' of the National 15th Five-Year Plan, Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan proposes deepening healthcare system reform, advancing the high-quality development of primary healthcare, and enhancing the resilience of Hong Kong’s healthcare services, thereby building a healthy and vibrant Hong Kong with concerted efforts."
He also said, "Building a 'Healthy China' is a major national strategy. In an important speech delivered at the recently convened National Meeting on Health, President Xi Jinping emphasised that the period of the 15th Five-Year Plan is a crucial moment of achieving the goal of building a 'Healthy China' by 2035. To build a balanced, inclusive, high-quality and efficient 'Healthy China', it is necessary to possess six core capabilities in health management, disease prevention and control, healthcare services, health insurance support, health and medical innovation, and talent cultivation. In active alignment with this initiative, the HKSAR Government will advance Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, upholding the principle of prevention first and a health-centred approach to deepen healthcare system reform, develop an international health and medical innovation hub, leverage the role as a 'super connector' in healthcare and build a healthy and vibrant Hong Kong with concerted efforts, hence better integrating into and serving the overall development of a 'Healthy China'."
During the meeting with Mr Huang, Professor Lo provided him with details on the latest progress of the establishment of the Hong Kong Centre for Medical Products Regulation (CMPR), including the establishment of the CMPR by the end of this year, the appointment of Mr Li Zili as the Controller for Medical Products Regulation, and the application for accession as a member of the International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use. The CMPR will progressively establish a robust drug approval system, aiming for the full implementation of "primary evaluation" mechanism for new drug registration by 2030, thereby becoming an internationally recognised regulatory authority for medical products.
Members of the Hong Kong delegation include the Director of Health, Dr Ronald Lam, and the Controller-designate for Medical Products Regulation, Mr Li Zili, as well as representatives of the Health Bureau, the Department of Health (DH) and the Hospital Authority. The Hospital Chief Executive of CMHHK, Professor Bian Zhaoxiang, also joined the delegation for the conference.
Members of the Hong Kong delegation will continue to attend the conference tomorrow (October 18). Professor Lo will participate in the high-level government forum: "Belt and Road Traditional Chinese Medicine Development Conference (Ministerial Level) Roundtable Dialogue" at the conference. A representative of the DH will also share the latest progress regarding the regulation of Chinese medicines during the parallel session of the conference. Professor Lo and his delegation will return to Hong Kong tomorrow afternoon (October 18).
Secretary for Health attends World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health attends World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health attends World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health attends World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health attends World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health attends World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Secretary for Health attends World Conference on Traditional Medicine 2026 in Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
