Third-term Human Resources Planning Commission convenes second meeting (with photos)

     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (November 28) chaired the second meeting of the third-term Human Resources Planning Commission.

     At the meeting, members were briefed by representatives of policy bureaux on the initiatives regarding manpower development in "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address" and offered their views. Members welcomed the further measures launched under the Government's ongoing strategy of trawling for enterprises as well as attracting and retaining talent to raise Hong Kong's competitiveness. Such measures include implementing the Capital Investment Entrant Scheme, relaxing the visa requirements for talent in certain countries, expanding the coverage of universities under the Top Talent Pass Scheme, launching the Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme, and introducing a stamp duty suspension arrangement for incoming talent's acquisition of residential properties. Members also supported the Government in consolidating and enhancing Hong Kong's development of "eight centres" as outlined in the National 14th Five-Year Plan to provide impetus for the city's sustaining economic growth.

     Meanwhile, members were glad to note the Government's endeavours to address the manpower shortage across various sectors in Hong Kong through training, retraining, employment support, importation of labour, and use of innovation and technology. Members supported that the Government should continue to go all out to promote vocational and professional education and training, expand the vocational talent pool, and develop Hong Kong into an education and talent hub. Members also expressed their views on the implementation of the various measures.

     Mr Chan said, "The Government accords high priority to training local manpower, attracting and retaining talent, and promoting local employment. The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address sets out an array of initiatives on manpower development accordingly to strengthen Hong Kong's role as the gateway for talent from both the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and overseas. The Government will press ahead with the various initiatives, while expanding the potential labour force continuously, to meet the needs of Hong Kong's economic and social development."

     Prior to the meeting, Mr Chan led members to appeal to the trade and industrial sectors, the professional services sectors, the labour sector, the academia and members of the public for voting at the District Council (DC) Election on December 10 to fulfil their civic duty. He also called on employers of various sectors to implement flexible work arrangements on the polling day for employees to vote at their designated polling stations, so as to elect capable DC members to act in concert with talent across sectors in building a better community.