UGC Hosts University Leadership Forum to Discuss Higher Education's Future Role in Hong Kong's Development and National Strategy

University Grants Committee holds University Leadership Forum 2026

The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:

The University Grants Committee (UGC) held the University Leadership Forum2026 today (June 22)to introduce its latest initiatives to council members and senior management of the eight UGC-funded universities, and to facilitate an exchange of views with representatives of university councils on the development of higher education in Hong Kong.

In his welcoming remarks, the Chairman of the UGC, Mr Tim Lui, said, "Today offers a timely opportunity to explore how we may better integrate into and contribute to national development in alignment with the 15th Five-Year Plan and Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan, in particular the strategic goal of building China into a leading powerhouse of global education. Our national strategy highlights integrated development in education, science, technology, and talent, while nurturing new quality productive forces. Hong Kong's role as a hub for top talent and innovation is therefore highly important. The Government's strong commitment to providing stable and generous funding for our higher education system while preserving academic freedom and institutional autonomy is an important factor for the success of our universities. At the same time, we do expect good governance and close collaboration between the UGC and the universities in response to the expectation of the wider public and our national aspiration."

At the Forum, the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, delivered a keynote speech on Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan. She noted that the consultation document for Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan explicitly lists "advancing the integrated development of education, technology, and talent" as the core strategy for constructing an international hub for high-calibre talent. Higher education in Hong Kong serves precisely as the key vehicle to translate the strategic positioning of "invigorating the country through science and education" into concrete actions. By converging top global talent via an internationalised educational environment, and utilising the Northern Metropolis University Town as a strategic fulcrum to drive the deep integration of industry, academia, and research, the city can serve national strategic goals with high-quality higher education.

Dr Choi said that the eight UGC-funded universities have achieved outstanding performance in the 2027 World University Rankings recently released by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS). She said she firmly believed that on this basis, the leaders of all institutions will seize the opportunities presented by the Five-Year Plan to deeply align their institutional development plans with national strategies and Hong Kong's future development. By leveraging Hong Kong's advantages to serve the country's needs, the international standing of Hong Kong's higher education can be elevated to better integrate into and serve the overall development of the nation.

The Council Chairman of City University of Hong Kong, Professor Michael Ngai; the Council Chairman of Hong Kong Baptist University, Dr Kennedy Wong; the Council Chairman of Lingnan University, Andrew Yao; and the Council Chairman of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor John Chai, participated in a panel discussion moderated by Mr Lui on building Hong Kong into an international education hub through international and national collaboration.

The Council Chairman of the Education University of Hong Kong, Dr David Wong; the Deputy Council Chairman of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Dr Daniel Yip; the Council Chairman of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Harry Shum; and Council member of the University of Hong Kong Mr Jimmy Ng participated in another panel discussion moderated by the Chairman of the Research Grants Council, Professor Timothy W. Tong, on preparing Hong Kong's higher education for global leadership in the digital era.

The Forum enabled university councils and senior management to gain deeper insights into key issues relating to the development of the higher education sector in Hong Kong. The UGC expressed its sincere gratitude to the more than 160 leaders from the higher education sector who attended the Forum and contributed to its success.

The University Grants Committee (UGC) held the University Leadership Forum 2026 today (June 22) to introduce its latest initiatives to council members and senior management of the eight UGC-funded universities, and to facilitate an exchange of views with representatives of university councils on the development of higher education in Hong Kong. Photo shows (from left) the Council Chairman of City University of Hong Kong, Professor Michael Ngai; the Council Chairman of Hong Kong Baptist University, Dr Kennedy Wong; the Chairman of the UGC, Mr Tim Lui; the Council Chairman of Lingnan University, Mr Andrew Yao; and the Council Chairman of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Professor John Chai, participating in a panel discussion. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The University Grants Committee (UGC) held the University Leadership Forum 2026 today (June 22) to introduce its latest initiatives to council members and senior management of the eight UGC-funded universities, and to facilitate an exchange of views with representatives of university councils on the development of higher education in Hong Kong. Photo shows (from left) the Council Chairman of the Education University of Hong Kong, Dr David Wong; the Deputy Council Chairman of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Dr Daniel Yip; the Chairman of the Research Grants Council, Professor Timothy W. Tong; the Council Chairman of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Harry Shum; and Council member of the University of Hong Kong Mr Jimmy Ng, participating in a panel discussion. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The University Grants Committee (UGC) held the University Leadership Forum 2026 today (June 22) to introduce its latest initiatives to council members and senior management of the eight UGC-funded universities, and to facilitate an exchange of views with representatives of university councils on the development of higher education in Hong Kong. Photo shows the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (front row, seventh right); the Chairman of the UGC, Mr Tim Lui (front row, seventh left); the Chairman of the Research Grants Council, Professor Timothy W. Tong (front row, fifth right); the Chairman of the Quality Assurance Council, Mr Dieter Yih (front row, sixth left); the Secretary-General of the UGC, Professor James Tang (front row, sixth right), and the Council Chairmen and the Heads of the eight UGC-funded universities or their representatives. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The University Grants Committee (UGC) held the University Leadership Forum 2026 today (June 22) to introduce its latest initiatives to council members and senior management of the eight UGC-funded universities, and to facilitate an exchange of views with representatives of university councils on the development of higher education in Hong Kong. Photo shows the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin, delivering a keynote speech on Hong Kong's Five-Year Plan at the Forum. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The University Grants Committee (UGC) held the University Leadership Forum 2026 today (June 22) to introduce its latest initiatives to council members and senior management of the eight UGC-funded universities, and to facilitate an exchange of views with representatives of university councils on the development of higher education in Hong Kong. Photo shows the Chairman of the UGC, Mr Tim Lui, delivering his welcoming remarks at the forum. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit to Beijing

The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, began his visit to Beijing. He met with officials of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) and the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China (GACC), and visited facilities of the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid), the Science and Technology Research Center of China Customs and a food enterprise in Beijing yesterday (September 8) and today (September 9).

Yesterday morning, Mr Tse met with Vice Minister of the MEE Mr Li Gao and had in-depth exchanges on the work of the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) in environmental protection, including projects related to carbon neutrality and green transformation in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), as well as the work progress of building a pilot zone for a Beautiful China in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), "Beautiful Bays", "Zero Waste Bay Area" and Green Belt and Road.

Mr Tse said that the HKSAR will further promote green living and green and low-carbon transition, strengthen ecological and environmental protection, build a green and livable city, as well as advance new energy, green technology and innovative applications. The HKSAR will also capitalise on its unique advantages of having strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world under the "one country, two systems" principle, and actively integrate into the country's overall development.

He added that the HKSAR Government will, as always, under the guidance and leadership of the MEE, work with other GBA cities to continuously promote policy innovation and technical exchanges, play well the roles of "super connector" and "super value-adder" connecting the Mainland and international markets, and contribute to building a Beautiful China and a Beautiful Hong Kong, in order to achieve national green transition and high-quality economic development.

Afterwards, Mr Tse visited the State Grid Simulation Center, the State Grid Center of Metrology and the State Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy Grid-Integration of the State Grid, and was briefed by the State Grid representatives on key technologies on power grids, electricity meters and research outcomes of renewable energy grid integration.

This morning, Mr Tse visited a food enterprise in Beijing to learn about its standardised production, quality traceability system and experience in product exports.

In the afternoon today, Mr Tse met with Vice Minister of the GACC Mr Zhang Baofeng. Both sides signed the Memorandum of Understanding between the General Administration of Customs of the People's Republic of China and the Environment and Ecology Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government on the Registration and Administration of Manufacturers of Food Import and Export (the MOU). Under the MOU, the GACC and the EEB will co-operate on the batch registration of manufacturers for food exported from Hong Kong to the Mainland and food supplied to Hong Kong from the Mainland. They will also strengthen exchanges on safety supervision policies and regulations for manufacturers of food imports and exports, and provide timely updates regarding laws and regulations, regulatory procedures, technical standards, and hygiene requirements concerning the management of overseas manufacturers of food imports and exports, thereby safeguarding food safety in both Hong Kong and the Mainland.

Mr Tse then visited the Science and Technology Research Center of China Customs to be briefed on the Center's testing work and technology regarding food safety and discuss scope for future co-operation. He also met with representatives of a state-owned enterprise with its core business in modern agriculture and agri-food trade.

Mr Tse will attend the Asia-Pacific Forum on EnergySustainable Development and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Energy Ministerial Meeting tomorrow (September 10) and on September 11.

SEE begins visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

SEE begins visit to Beijing Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases