Hong Kong Talent Engage (HKTE) today hosted the Global Talent Summit · Hong Kong to promote Hong Kong's dual role and advantages as an international talent hub and the country's gateway for talent.

Being the current-term Government’s first talent-themed international forum and exhibition, the two-day summit brought together over 1,200 international and Mainland leaders from political, academic, business and other sectors to exchange trends and experiences in talent development.

Chief Executive John Lee officiated at the summit and delivered welcoming remarks. In his speech, he pointed out that talent is the prime resource and driving force that boosts economic development and competitiveness, adding that the search for talent has become a global phenomenon and a continuous challenge.

Apart from making it clear that Hong Kong is bestowed with institutional strengths under "one country, two systems, Mr Lee mentioned that the city possesses key factors that attract talent to get both world-class work opportunities and a satisfying life.

After noting that the launch of a series of talent admission programmes from the end of 2022 has attracted more than 120,000 talented people from around the world to Hong Kong, he stressed the importance of cross-sector collaboration in attracting talent and strengthening the talent base.

Minister of Human Resources & Social Security Wang Xiaoping also attended the summit.

In her keynote address, Ms Wang said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government established a dedicated talent service agency to attract talent around the world.

She also pointed out that the Hong Kong SAR Government launched a series of high-value talent attraction schemes to provide holistic institutional arrangements and policy protection for various kinds of talented people to move to Hong Kong, know the city better and stay in Hong Kong, thereby injecting new impetus and vibrancy into the city's growth.

She expressed confidence that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to leverage the unique advantages of enjoying the motherland’s strong support and being closely connected to the world, giving full play to its strengths to meet the needs of the country.

"We look forward to seeing more talent across sectors as well as friends from the industrial and commercial sectors and academia at home and abroad coming to China and especially Hong Kong. They shall seize and make full use of the opportunities brought about by the high level of opening up of Mainland China and Hong Kong's prosperity and stability."

Prior to the opening of the summit, Ms Wang, accompanied by the Secretary for Labour & Welfare Chris Sun, visited the exhibition areas of Guangdong Province, HKTE and the Macao Special Administrative Region at the CareerConnect Expo held concurrently.

Yesterday, Ms Wang visited the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority and the Labour Department's Construction Industry Recruitment Centre to get an update about Hong Kong's retirement protection system and employment services.

Yesterday evening, Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki hosted a welcome dinner for Ms Wang as well as officials, guests and speakers visiting the city for the summit. Before the dinner, the visitors toured two exhibitions at the Palace Museum to experience Hong Kong's charm as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.