Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Wednesday that Hong Kong’s future competitiveness hinges on “people, knowledge, creativity and adaptability” as the nation’s 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) explicitly backs the city’s role as a global high-caliber talent hub.
He made the remarks at the opening of the second edition of the Global Talent Summit Week -- an annual premier platform showcasing the special administrative region’s ability to attract talent from around the world.
The week-long summit, which has drawn about 7,000 participants this year, features the International Talent Forum and the CareerConnect Expo on Wednesday and Thursday, as well as nine satellite events ranging from recruitment fairs and award ceremonies to conferences focused on human resources.
Lee told the International Talent Forum the SAR has benefited from “one country, two systems” and received strong support from the nation, while maintaining extensive international connectivity.
The nation’s recently approved 15th Five-Year Plan pledges to back Hong Kong in making itself an international hub for high-caliber talent.
The SAR’s competitiveness, Lee emphasized, no longer depends solely on capital or fiscal infrastructure but, above all, on its people -- their knowledge, creativity, and adaptability -- while building a global talent hub requires “constant renewal, active engagement and sustained collaboration”.
He noted that as the global competition for professionals intensifies, Hong Kong must expand opportunities through cooperation and shared progress instead of outcompeting with other regions.
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The HKSAR government will further refine education, innovation and infrastructure policies to ensure that the city remains a fertile ground for ideas, and that talent from around the world feel welcomed and supported.
Yu Jiadong, vice-minister of human resources and social security of the People’s Republic of China, praised the HKSAR government’s “remarkable effectiveness” in talent work, noting that the city’s appeal and competitiveness as a destination for global talent is rising continuously.
He said Hong Kong is offering a “broad stage and a good environment” for professionals, highlighting the SAR’s unique position as the “southern gateway” for global talent entering China and the “bridgehead” for Chinese talent going global.
Yu outlined several areas of support for Hong Kong, including jointly advancing the construction of a high-level talent corridor in the Guangdong-Hong-Macao Greater Bay Area, and exploring mechanisms to streamline the flow of talent. He stressed the need to support Hong Kong’s role as a pivot to facilitate collaboration and combine artificial intelligence with education and technological development to foster a new paradigm in talent training.
Hong Kong’s Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han said the SAR authorities will continue to refine existing measures and introduce innovative adjustments to meet the targets of becoming a world hub for high-end talent.
“We’ll continue to collaborate actively with our neighboring cities in the Greater Bay Area,” he said.
Sun also said the SAR’s safety and stability have become increasingly prominent advantages amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, positioning itself as a magnet for global professionals, including those from the Middle East who could make use of Hong Kong to develop their careers.
Basima Abdulrahman, founder of an Iraqi green-tech company, said she was drawn to Hong Kong’s unique geographical and economic positioning.
“I’m very interested in Hong Kong’s global connectivity and the way it’s situated between connecting the Middle East and the Chinese mainland,” Abdulrahman said. “I think Hong Kong has this blend of unique opportunities -- between talent, connectivity, and also the access to the fund.”
She said her company used to source materials from Europe, but has now switched to Chinese suppliers, citing their competitive quality and pricing. While seeking talent with expertise in supply chain and hardware, she emphasized that technical skills alone aren’t enough. Equally important are those with strong adaptability.
Joe Ngai, chairman of Greater China at the McKinsey and Company, acknowledged that Hong Kong already possesses many advantages that attract talent, supported by well-developed supporting facilities and abundant conditions for drawing international professionals.
However, he said the city must continue to evolve. “Given the geopolitical landscape, we need to think about our role, for example, in helping Chinese companies go global. We also need to strengthen our position in technology and artificial intelligence.”
