Chief Executive Discusses Hong Kong's Higher Education Development with University Grants Committee Members

CE meets University Grants Committee members

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, met with members of the University Grants Committee (UGC) today (September 2) to exchange views on the latest developments in higher education in Hong Kong. The discussion covered such topics as strengthening the integration of industry, academia and research through the Northern Metropolis University Town Area development, building Hong Kong into an international education hub through national and global partnerships, and promoting the leadership role of Hong Kong higher education in research, teaching and learning in the digital era. The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki; the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin; the Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong; the Head of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit, Dr Stephen Wong; and the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms May Chan, also joined the meeting.

The UGC Chairman, Mr Tim Lui, briefed Mr Lee on the UGC's latest strategic initiatives to reinforce Hong Kong's position as an international post-secondary education hub. These initiatives include organising high-profile summits and forums to facilitate forward-looking exchanges with key stakeholders and academic leaders from around the world on how Hong Kong's higher education could align with national development priorities and Hong Kong's strategic planning objectives. Mr Lui said that these efforts showcase Hong Kong's outstanding achievements in research, teaching and learning activities, while promoting the "Study in Hong Kong" brand. The UGC also actively supports local institutions in nurturing local talent and attracting global talent, with a view to contributing to Hong Kong's development into a leading international post-secondary education hub.

Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to UGC members from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas for their advice on the development of higher education in Hong Kong, as well as their efforts in enhancing the internationalisation and diversification of UGC-funded universities. Mr Lee noted that Hong Kong's exceptional global standing as an international education hub was widely recognised, with five UGC-funded universities among the world's top 100, and two of them even ranking among the top 20 globally. He noted that the development prospects of higher education in Hong Kong are highly promising.

Mr Lee said that the Government will soon announce Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan, through which Hong Kong will advance such strategies as accelerating the Northern Metropolis development, developing into an international innovation and technology centre and building an international hub for high-calibre talent to actively align with the National 15th Five-Year Plan. Mr Lee remarked that the Government will adopt a town area concept in developing the Northern Metropolis University Town, integrating education, technology, talent, industry and urban development to build a high-quality university town area that further promotes the integrated development of industry, academia and research. Through digital transformation, deepening industry-academia-research synergy and international collaboration, the Government will further consolidate Hong Kong's leading position as an international education hub, strive for research excellence and dedicate its efforts to nurturing future-ready talent.

The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee (front row, centre); the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki (front row, fourth right); the Secretary for Education, Dr Choi Yuk-lin (front row, fourth left); the Acting Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Ms Lillian Cheong (front row, third left); the Head of the Chief Executive's Policy Unit, Dr Stephen Wong (front row, second left); the Permanent Secretary for Education, Ms May Chan (front row, second right); and the Private Secretary to the Chief Executive, Ms Queenie Wong (front row, first right), met with the Chairman of the University Grants Committee (UGC), Mr Tim Lui (front row, third right), the Secretary-General of the UGC, Professor James Tang (front row, first left), and UGC members to exchange views on the development of the higher education sector of Hong Kong. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds at airport

Hong Kong Customs today (September 2) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 4 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $1 million.

A 39-year-old Mainland male passenger arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday (September 1). During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds and 108 duty-not-paid cigarettes inside his carry-on baggage. The man was subsequently arrested.

An investigation is ongoing.

Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not to participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

Under the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO), cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys 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 may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account(crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).

Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds at airport Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases