This year marks the beginning of the 15th Five-Year Plan, which sets the blueprint for China's economic and social development over the next five years and provides clear guidance for Hong Kong's integration into national strategies.
In this episode of Connie Talk, we sit down with Professor William Wong Kam-fai — a computer scientist, public policy practitioner, Legislative Council member, and Associate Dean (External Affairs) of the Faculty of Engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. With a deep understanding of both technology and policy, Professor Wong offers a unique perspective on how Hong Kong can leverage its strengths to align with the nation's 15th Five-Year Plan.
Professor Wong believes that Hong Kong is exceptionally well-positioned to contribute in two key areas: innovation and technology, and financial services. He points to Hong Kong's five world-class universities ranked in the global top 100 and its status as the third-ranked international financial centre as undeniable assets.
He further argues that Hong Kong should make good use of its "one country, two systems" advantage — serving the national strategy while also helping mainland enterprises expand overseas through Hong Kong's financial and legal systems. On talent development, Professor Wong stresses that education must go beyond teaching technical skills; it should cultivate problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and empathy. Using a football team as an analogy, he explains that importing foreign talent and training local talent are complementary — both are necessary for Hong Kong to stay competitive. The government's ongoing investment in upskilling and reskilling is also essential to help the local workforce adapt to market changes.
Turning to young people, Professor Wong encourages them to stay open-minded, embrace lifelong learning, and seize opportunities in the Greater Bay Area and beyond. He believes that with the right preparation, Hong Kong's youth can thrive in the new era. He closes with optimism about Hong Kong's future, seeing the 15th Five-Year Plan as a tremendous opportunity for the city to redefine itself — not just as a financial hub, but as a comprehensive innovation and technology centre. He hopes Hong Kong will continue to excel and contribute to the nation's overall development.
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