Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin today said Hong Kong, as a city where international talent gathers, needs an abundance of biliterate and trilingual talent to fully leverage its role as a bridge connecting with the world.

Ms Choi made the remarks in a speech at the closing ceremony of the Biliteracy & Trilingualism Campaign and award presentation ceremony of the One-minute Video Production Competition held by the Education Bureau (EDB) and the Standing Committee on Language Education & Research (SCOLAR).

Over the past five months, the EDB and SCOLAR jointly took forward the campaign at various levels of the community to enhance Hong Kong's language strengths and foster understanding and integration across different cultures.

In her speech, Ms Choi noted that it is essential to cultivate biliterate and trilingual abilities, so as to consolidate Hong Kong's status as an international financial centre, enhance the development of the "eight centres" as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan, and seize the opportunities arising from the Belt & Road Initiative and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The education chief also pointed out that the EDB has been committed to nurturing Hong Kong students' biliterate and trilingual abilities.

In addition to providing support services on classroom teaching, the bureau has been collaborating with schools, the school sector and social organisations to hold various language activities outside classrooms, aiming at enhancing students' interests and abilities in language learning, as well as creating platforms to demonstrate their learning outcomes, she added. 

Ms Choi also presented awards to winners of the One-minute Video Production Competition today. The competition received an enthusiastic response and attracted the participation of over 700 students and parents from more than 100 kindergartens, primary and secondary schools.

The winning entries, portrayed in various styles, depicted the distinctiveness and advantages of Hong Kong in adopting biliteracy and trilingualism.