Proud to launch our new POD Research Institute report, From Public Good to Strategic Industry: A Roadmap for Hong Kong's Transnational Education Sector. I also shared the key findings on RTHK’s “Hong Kong 2000“. Our study shows that Hong Kong has long underestimated education as a high‑value services export, largely due to outdated metrics and a lack of coordinated strategy. The economic impact of international students, offshore campuses, overseas programmes, and talent mobility remains under‑recognised. As global competition intensifies, Hong Kong must position education as a strategic industry central to economic diversification and international competitiveness.

Welcoming more than 30 teachers and students from the Yunnan Province was a truly heartwarming and unforgettable journey. For all of them, this was their first time in Hong Kong—and their first visit to a university campus. As we talked about “One Country, Two Systems,” I saw curiosity turn into understanding and smiles grow through dialogue—a quiet reminder of how meaningful real encounters can be. Grateful to the Foreign Ministry's HK Office for organizing this trip, with the support of the Hong Kong Jockey Club and the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, as well as the attention from RTHK, which covered this journey in a dedicated episode, helping more people see the value of youth exchange and mutual learning.

The Hong Kong Policy Research Institute submitted its "Recommendations for the 2026-27 Budget" to the Financial Secretary, focusing on "prudent financial management and aggressive investment," and highlighting four key areas: accelerating AI deployment, developing a low-Earth orbit economy, promoting public finance reform, and creating a more child-friendly environment. Our proposals include strengthening AI governance and establishing a strategic fund, initiating low-Earth orbit talent development and international cooperation, introducing cost-benefit analysis and zero-based budgeting to enhance fiscal discipline, increasing the child tax exemption, and launching a new parent support voucher. We also suggest allowing first-time homebuyers limited withdrawals of their Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) for their down payment under a prudent mechanism. With public finances returning to stability, now is the best time for Hong Kong to invest in its future.

I visited Taiwan as part of the International Association of Chinese Traders delegation, coinciding with the resumption of the KMT-CPC Think Tank Forum this week after a nine-year hiatus. During the trip, I met with KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wen, Vice Chairperson Chang Jung-kung, Legislative Yuan Speaker Han Kuo-yu, and Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, gaining insights from different perspectives into current Taiwanese societal concerns and expectations for cross-strait interaction. I hope that amidst the complex regional situation, both sides can reopen communication channels, promote mutual trust, and take a more proactive approach to thawing relations. The more misunderstandings and tensions exist, the more necessary it is to have platforms for dialogue and individuals willing to take the first step. This exchange has shown me that there are still many shared forces on both sides of the Taiwan Strait who desire peace and stability, and I look forward to promoting more positive interactions in a rational and pragmatic manner in the future.

In the years since the pandemic, the Shanghai-Hong Kong Institute has held academic conferences, but they have either been online or hybrid events. This 20th conference, however, will be held at CUHK for two consecutive days, truly face-to-face [...]