SCED to attend ASEAN Economic Ministers - Hong Kong, China Consultation meeting in Laos
The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Mr Algernon Yau, will depart for Vientiane, Laos, tomorrow (September 19) to attend the eighth Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers - Hong Kong, China (HKC) Consultation meeting to be held on September 20.
Mr Yau and the participating economic ministers of ASEAN member states will discuss the implementation of the ASEAN-HKC Free Trade Agreement and the Investment Agreement, and exchange views on other issues such as the latest regional and global economic development. On the sidelines of the meeting, he will hold bilateral meetings with ASEAN officials to exchange views on issues of mutual interest.
After the ASEAN Economic Ministers - HKC Consultation meeting, Mr Yau will visit Singapore from September 22 to 24 to meet withsenior officials and representatives from major business chambers to have exchanges on economic and trade co-operation issues.
Mr Yau will return to Hong Kong on September 24. During his absence, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, will take up the post of the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development on September 19 and 20 concurrently, while the Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan, will be the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development from September 21 to 24.
Hong Kong soars in World Talent Ranking 2024
The International Institute for Management Development (IMD) published the World Talent Ranking 2024 today (September 19). Hong Kong's ranking rose visibly to nine, from 16 last year, returning to the top 10 for the first time since 2016.
Hong Kong improved across all three talent competitiveness factors in the Ranking as compared to last year. Its position rose from six to four in "readiness", and from 15 to 13 in "investment and development". Hong Kong's ranking in "appeal" also rose from 32 to 28. Among the indicators, Hong Kong topped the ranking in the percentage of graduates in sciences, and was among the global top five in the availability of finance skills, effectiveness of management education and remuneration of management.
A Government spokesperson said, "The return of Hong Kong to amongst the top 10 in the IMD's Ranking is clear evidence that the work of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government in education and talent admission has made remarkable achievements. Hong Kong has a sound education infrastructure, world-renowned universities and outstanding research talent. The quality of our teaching and learning is ranked among the top in various international comparative studies. Moreover, the HKSAR Government announced in the 2022 Policy Address an array of admission measures to entice global talent to come to Hong Kong. These include the launch of the Top Talent Pass Scheme, which targets high-income talent and graduates from the world's top universities, as well as enhancement of various talent admission schemes to trawl for outside quality talent to enrich the local talent pool."
The spokesman said, "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address has set out clearly the strategic directions and objectives for enhancing the quality of education in Hong Kong, with a view to developing Hong Kong into an 'international post-secondary education hub and a cradle of future talent', nurturing a diversified talent pool, and enhancing Hong Kong's development momentum while promoting people-to-people exchanges and contributing to national development. On the other hand, as at end-August this year, over 360 000 applications were received under various talent admission schemes, with nearly 230 000 applications approved. During the same period, over 150 000 people of talent arrived in Hong Kong through various talent admission schemes. The arrivals of outside quality talent and their family members boost Hong Kong's labour force and inject new momentum into our local economy. The HKSAR Government established the Hong Kong Talent Engage in end-October 2023 to provide one-stop support services to incoming talent to enable their settlement in Hong Kong."
