Hong Kong Launches Blueprint for Digital Education Transformation in Schools to Enhance Students' Digital Literacy.

EDB announces Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools

The Education Bureau (EDB) today (June 17) announced the Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools compiled by the Curriculum Development Council (CDC), which provides a clear guiding direction and implementation strategies for promoting the digital transformation of education in primary and secondary schools across Hong Kong in the future. It aims to enhance students' digital literacy and equip the younger generation to seize the opportunities and meet the challenges of the digital era.

In line with the recommendations of the Steering Committee on Strategic Development of Digital Education, the Blueprint proposes "Four Key Focuses, Ten Strategies", driving forward along four key development directions, namely, "nurturing talent with both digital literacy and humanistic qualities", "strengthening teacher training to drive digital transformation of education", "optimising infrastructure to build smart campuses", and "promoting cross-sector collaboration to co-create a digital education ecosystem".

The Blueprint focuses on AI education, providing clear guidelines for the school sector across comprehensive dimensions such as overall school planning, teacher training, student development, infrastructure optimisation, as well as exchange and collaboration. Grounded in the four key development directions, the Blueprint proposes 10 strategies with the relevant recommendations outlined below:

(I) Nurturing talent with both digital literacy and humanistic qualities

• Formulate the AI Literacy Learning Framework for Primary and Secondary Schools to systematically cultivate students' knowledge, skills and proper values related to digital technology
• Strengthen mathematics, science and technology education to enhance students' innovation and technology (I&T) capabilities (to launch the Information Technology and I&T Curriculum Framework for Primary Schools in 2026/27 school year, etc)
• Integrate learning elements related to digital education into the primary and secondary curricula organically, promote the "AI+Curriculum", and issue the Guide to Using AI in Teaching in Primary and Secondary Schools

(II) Strengthening teacher training to drive digital transformation of education

• Formulate teacher professional training requirements for digital education (to complete a minimum of 30 hours of training related to digital education within each three-year cycle of the Continuing Professional Development)
• Provide tiered, diversified professional development activities in digital education to strengthen schools' professional capacity to lead change and pedagogical innovation (to offer more than 50 000 training places each year)

(III) Optimising infrastructure to build smart campuses

• Promote the development of smart campuses and actively explore how AI can assist schools in handling administrative work, to reduce workload, enhance capacity, and improve school governance and efficiency
• Leverage the enhanced School Development and Accountability Framework to drive school improvement and enable schools to refine their implementation of digital education
• Strengthen support services, provide resource support, and build a comprehensive platform for digital education learning resources (to set aside $2 billion in the Quality Education Fund for support)

(IV) Promoting cross-sector collaboration to co-create a digital education ecosystem

• Promote home-school co-operation to co-cultivate proper values and good attitudes in students
• Bring together various stakeholders, including professional bodies, to jointly build a digital education ecosystem for primary and secondary schools (including exchanges and co-operation with the Mainland and internationally)

The EDB today also disbursed a one-off grant of $500,000 to all publicly funded schools to launch a three-year AI for Empowering Learning and Teaching Funding Programme, to plan school-based AI-empowered education measures and organise AI teacher training courses covering various levels, providing comprehensive support for schools to implement digital education. Schools should incorporate digital education into school development plans and/or school annual plans in the next school year (2026/2027) with reference to the Blueprint and relevant curriculum documents and formulate school-based implementation strategies.

The Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, said, "The EDB welcomes the Blueprint compiled by the CDC, which aligns closely with the EDB's strategic planning to connect with the National 15th Five-Year Plan and the trend of 'AI + Education'. The Blueprint, in conjunction with measures such as the AI for Empowering Learning and Teaching Funding Programme, will enable Hong Kong's education to stay at the forefront of the times with a dynamic and forward-looking mindset. The restructuring of education in the digital age is a systemic transformation. We are not only focusing on hardware upgrades, but also actively promoting a deep shift in teaching and learning paradigms and comprehensively implementing AI education for students.

"The EDB will study the strategies and measures proposed in the Blueprint and looks forward to continuing to work hand in hand with the school sector and relevant stakeholders to help students make good use of technology to realise their dreams, jointly writing a new chapter in Hong Kong's school education and making a contribution to building China into a leading country in education and cultivating future talent."

The Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools and the Supplements have been uploaded to the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/DEBP) for schools, teachers, and public viewing.

EDB announces Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EDB announces Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

EDB announces Blueprint for Digital Education Development in Primary and Secondary Schools Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs conducts interdepartmental anti-illicit cigarette publicity campaign at Mei Tin Estate in Tai Wai

Hong Kong Customs today (June 17) conducted a joint anti-illicit cigarette publicity campaign with members of the Sha Tin District Council, the Tobacco and Alcohol Control Office (TACO) of the Department of Health, the Hong Kong Police Force and the Housing Department (HD) at Mei Tin Estate in Tai Wai. Customs also publicised the Duty Stamp System.

Customs officers patrolled the housing estates and introduced to residents Customs' enforcement actions against illicit cigarettes and the latest amendments to illicit cigarette-related legislation, including an increase in the maximum penalty for offences related to duty-not-paid cigarettes to a $2 million fine and seven-years' imprisonment. Customs also explained to estate security personnel how to deal with suspected illicit cigarette activities.

Customs officers also introduced the Duty Stamp System to be implemented in Hong Kong to the members of the District Council, residents, and cigarette retailers. The three-month Pilot Run for the Duty Stamp System launched by Customs concluded early this year. The department will continue to maintain close communication with all stakeholders and optimise the design and implementation details of the system. Customs expects the Duty Stamp System to achieve the ultimate goal of effective distinguishment of duty-paid cigarettes from duty-not-paid ones,and to combat "cheap whites".

Customs will continue to strengthen publicity and education to raise the public awareness of anti-illicit cigarettes. If public rental housing units are found to be involved in illicit cigarette crimes, Customs will notify the HD for follow-up action after the conclusion of court proceedings. Customs reminds members of the public not to buy or sell illicit cigarettes or distribute illicit cigarette leaflets to avoid creating a criminal record that could affect their future.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (Cap. 109), anyone involved in dealing with, possession of, selling or buying illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years. Members of the public are urged to report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080, its dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

In accordance with the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap. 371), no person shall distribute any smoking product advertisement (including any promotional leaflet). Any person who contravenes the regulation is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000. Members of the public are also urged to report any suspected activities of illicit cigarette leaflet distribution to TACO's hotline 2961 8823.

Hong Kong Customs conducts interdepartmental anti-illicit cigarette publicity campaign at Mei Tin Estate in Tai Wai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs conducts interdepartmental anti-illicit cigarette publicity campaign at Mei Tin Estate in Tai Wai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs conducts interdepartmental anti-illicit cigarette publicity campaign at Mei Tin Estate in Tai Wai Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases