Hong Kong will work closely with the other cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to take talent cooperation to a higher level and contribute to the country’s high-quality development, Chief Secretary for Administration Eric Chan Kwok-ki said on Sunday.

Addressing the fourth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area High-quality Talent Development Conference, he said Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development (2026-30) aligns with the national 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and promotes the integrated development of education, technology and talent.

Under “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong, with the motherland’s strong support and being closely connected to the world, serves as the country’s international gateway, he said.

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Chan said the special administrative region will continue to actively attract the talent required for the development of the country and Hong Kong, and work with other Greater Bay Area cities to advance the alignment of rules and mechanisms, facilitating the flow of talent within the region.

The Northern Metropolis University Town will also closely connect Hong Kong’s strengths in basic research and internationalized education with innovation and technology and talent resources in the region, he said.

The annual conference, jointly organized by the governments of Guangdong province and the Hong Kong and Macao SARs, serves as a vital platform for developing a high-caliber talent hub in the 11-city Greater Bay Area.

Secretary for Labour and Welfare Chris Sun Yuk-han also attended and officiated at the opening ceremony.

Chan and a HKSAR delegation visited a key I&T enterprise in Dongguan on Saturday to gain an in-depth understanding of the Guangdong city’s cooperation model in scientific research, innovation and talent nurturing.

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The delegation also toured the City University of Hong Kong (Dongguan) to learn about collaboration between Hong Kong and Dongguan in higher education and talent cultivation, and explore ways to further enhance complementary strengths and mutual benefits between the two places.

Chan and Sun concluded their visit to Dongguan on Sunday morning and returned to Hong Kong in the afternoon.