The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s advantage in the global race for artificial intelligence talent rests on its international connectivity, the national-and-global opportunities set out in its new five-year plan, and the security it enjoys under the “one country, two systems” framework, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said on Thursday.
Lee was responding to legislator Lawrence Tang Fei’s concerns over the SAR government’s proposal to attract AI talent, as part of his exchange session with lawmakers concerning the first five-year plan and 2026 Policy Address that were both announced on Wednesday.
The government has proposed adding more categories relating to AI applications to enrich the city’s Talent List, which currently covers 60 professions under-represented in Hong Kong.
According to government sources, the mid-term update report on labor force projections, to be released by the Labour and Welfare Bureau soon, will analyze the impact of AI applications on the labor market.
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The bureau is currently reviewing the demand for AI talent across various industries, identifying which roles are in short supply and where local training programs have failed to keep pace, and expects to update the Talent List by the first half of next year.
Lee said talent follows opportunities, and that Hong Kong’s inaugural five-year plan has clearly spelled out both national and global opportunities — a combination he described as “rare in the world.”
He also stressed that Hong Kong’s security and stability under the “one country, two systems" framework, backed by national support, make the SAR more attractive to international investors and talent amid global uncertainty.
He said he hoped various stakeholders, including lawmakers, universities and social organizations, would also help to promote Hong Kong’s strengths.
Sixteen lawmakers raised questions during the exchange session, covering topics such as data sharing for establishing the “AI City Brain” Integrated City Management System, support for local employment, and homeownership assistant policies.
Looking ahead to the next five years, Lee said the plan will bring faster progress, a better quality of life, more job opportunities, and stronger economic growth to be shared by all Hong Kong residents.
Contact the writer at stacyshi@chinadailyhk.com
