Chief Executive John Lee on Wednesday laid out measures in the Policy Address to enhance governance, develop the economy, improve livelihoods and strengthen Hong Kong's education and youth development. The measures have been widely discussed and well-received by the HK community.
The Chairman of the University Grants Committee (UGC), Mr Tim Lui, welcomed the Chief Executive's proposal of developing Hong Kong into an international post-secondary education hub in "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address", and said that the UGC would work closely with the eight UGC-funded universities to take forward various relevant measures.
In a statement, Lui said, "Thanks to the significant investment in higher education by the Government over the years, there are currently five universities in Hong Kong within the world's top 100. We therefore possess ample advantages of developing into an international post-secondary education hub."
The UGC also welcomed the 50 per cent increase in the quota of the Belt and Road Scholarship as well as other related initiatives by the government. The UGC will further support universities' participation in more publicity and recruitment activities at different places to proactively promote the unique advantages of Hong Kong's higher education to the world.
The Chairman of the Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary Education, Professor Anthony Cheung, also welcomed the various new initiatives announced in "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address" today, which develop Hong Kong into an international post-secondary education hub, and support the self-financing post-secondary education sector to enhance the quality of teaching and learning, tying in with the further development of vocational and professional education and training (VPET), with a view to nurturing talent with professional skills to address community needs.
The Chairman of the Transport Advisory Committee (TAC), Professor Stephen Cheung, welcomed the transport-related initiatives announced in "The Chief Executive's 2023 Policy Address" delivered Wednesday.
Professor Cheung said, "The Policy Address announced that the Government plans to publish the Hong Kong Major Transport Infrastructure Development Blueprint by the end of this year, which will outline the implementation of all major transport infrastructure, including the enhanced Three Railways and Three Major Roads proposals and the new two railways and one major road projects. I welcome the Government's continued effort to improve our railway and major road networks, boosting the sustainable development of Hong Kong and facilitating the commuting of the public."
Also in a statement issued Wednesday, Vice-Chairman of the Youth Development Commission (YDC) said, "I am pleased that the Chief Executive has emphasised in the Policy Address that the Government will sustain its efforts in promoting youth development, continue to implement and enhance the some 160 measures in the Youth Development Blueprint, and organize the Youth Development Summit in mid-2024 as the opening and highlight of the 2024 Youth Festival. Moreover, I agree with the statement in the Policy Address that the Government would further support youth innovation and entrepreneurship, broaden young people's horizons and strengthen youth engagement."
He expressed appreciation of the Government's acceptance of suggestions raised by members of the YDC, and said that the YDC would work proactively and closely with the Government and other stakeholders to follow up on the implementation of relevant policy initiatives in the Policy Address and the Blueprint to promote youth development.
Separately, the Chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC), Dr Wilfred Wong, welcomed the proposed restructuring of Create Hong Kong as the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency in the policy address.
Wong said he fully supported the Chief Executive for his proposal in the Policy Address to establish the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency to proactively promote the development of arts, culture and creative sectors as industries under the industry-oriented principle. The FDC will continue to work closely with the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency to actively support the long-term development of the local film industry.
The Chief Executive announced in the Policy Address that the Government will set up a dedicated Women Affairs Team under the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and designate the post of Commissioner for Women Affairs to focus on work related to women affairs.
The Women's Commission (WoC) welcomes the initiatives on promoting women's development.
The Chairman of the WoC, Ms Chan Yuen-han, said, "I am very delighted to learn that the Government has attached great importance to women's development and that it has taken into account suggestions from the women sector to set up the post of Commissioner for Women Affairs, so as to better facilitate the promotion of women's development. I am also pleased to know that the Government will introduce a maintenance mediation pilot scheme to assist parties concerned to resolve disputes through mediation. The new initiatives mentioned in the Policy Address would not only facilitate the Government to formulate more focused measures in supporting women's development and promoting family education, but would also assist women to overcome different challenges that they may encounter in life."
The Family Council (Council) welcomes the initiatives on promoting family education, praising the launch of a new five-year Funding Scheme on the Promotion of Family Education by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Council.
The Chairperson of the Council, Melissa Kaye Pang, said, "I am very delighted that the Government will launch the new scheme by consolidating the existing Thematic Sponsorship Scheme to Support Family-related Initiatives by the Council and increase the funding to support families on the matters relating to raising children, maintaining family relationship, etc. The Council will work closely with the Government on the implementation details."
Also responding positively to the policy address, the Hospital Authority (HA) Chairman, Henry Fan, said that the measures are believed to facilitate the HA in enhancing the quality of public healthcare service, establishing a healthy Hong Kong.
In a statement, the HA said it will fully collaborate with the Government's policies, and continue to increase service capacity and improve quality of public healthcare in order to meet the rising demands.
Fan said, "Healthcare talent is the key to establishing a healthy Hong Kong. The HA will continue attracting more healthcare talents and strengthening the exchange and co-operation through different programs. Riding on the collaborative experience with the Guangdong Province, the HA will commence clinical healthcare staff exchange program with Shanghai. Mutual exchange can facilitate a more holistic learning environment, and enhance healthcare service quality in the long run."
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