Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin today led a delegation of Hong Kong higher education institution leaders to call on State Council Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Xia Baolong as well as the Ministry of Science & Technology in Beijing.
 
The delegation visited Mr Xia in the morning to report on the latest developments of Hong Kong’s higher education sector.
 
Pointing out that Hong Kong’s education is an important part of national education, Mr Xia stated that universities must keep in mind the importance of cultivating more talent, producing more scientific research outcomes, and making more contributions to national development.
 
He said he hoped that the leaders of Hong Kong’s higher education institutions will shoulder their important responsibilities of adhering to the fundamentals of cultivating values and nurturing talent, reinforcing the cultivation and attraction of talent, persisting in giving full play to their unique advantages, and contributing to the city’s wisdom and strengths in the construction of a leading country in education.
 
He stressed that the central government will fully, faithfully and unswervingly ensure that the “one country, two systems” principle remains unchanged, and wholeheartedly support Hong Kong in achieving a leap forward at the new stage.
 
Mr Xia emphasised that all must be united and proactively support the Chief Executive and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government in governing Hong Kong in accordance with the law, and fully leveraging its advantages under “one country, two systems” and as an international city, working together to build an international education hub, and contributing further to Hong Kong in its transition from stability to prosperity and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.
 
Ms Choi said that the active participation of the leaders of the 22 Hong Kong higher education institutions in the study group has not only made history for Hong Kong’s higher education sector, but also demonstrated the sector’s unity, carrying great significance.
 
She pointed out that with the implementation of the National Security Law, an improved electoral system and the Basic Law Article 23 legislation, a stable environment for development has been created. 

Additionally, Ms Choi noted that coupled with the goal of building a leading country in education by 2035, Hong Kong’s higher education will enjoy a golden opportunity for development in the next decade.
 
The Hong Kong SAR Government will give full support to institutions for continuous innovation and optimisation to develop Hong Kong into an international hub for post-secondary education, she added.
 
The delegation also called on the Ministry of Science & Technology to gain a deep understanding of the latest trend of national science and technology development, the overall national development, and the goal of building a nation strong in science and technology.
 
In the afternoon, the group toured a Mainland technology enterprise to learn about the development trend of digital economy on the Mainland and explore opportunities for collaboration.
 
Tomorrow, Ms Choi will attend the closing ceremony of a Mainland study tour for Hong Kong’s promoted teachers at the National Academy of Education Administration and meet the academy's leaders, before concluding her visit and returning to Hong Kong in the afternoon.