News

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 Our study shows that Hong Kong has long underestimated education as a high‑value services export, largely due to outdated metrics and a lack of coordinated strategy.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.

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, is different; it will be held face-to-face for two consecutive days at CUHK.

The volunteers I trained for the Shanghai World Expo have returned to Hong Kong with clear growth in professional competence, international exposure, and public‑service understanding. They shared valuable insights on the volunteer systems of Shanghai and Hong Kong, exhibition‑driven economies, and the role of commercial diplomacy. It was also inspiring to see CUHK students contributing with strong professionalism, and I look forward to more young people engaging in global platforms and bringing their learnings back to Hong Kong.

Honoured to join the China Institute of Strategy and Management’s seminar in Beijing. The high-level discussion focused on Northeast China Revitalization and Corporate Globalization Strategy, chaired by Mr. Weng Jieming, Deputy Director of the Economic Affairs Committee of NPC. During the panel, I highlighted how China’s industrial transformation provides a strategic foundation for Chinese enterprises going global. Beyond strengthening competitiveness, companies should actively shape the international discourse and integrate human-centered values into global operations—essential for building sustainable and respected global brands. A meaningful dialogue on coordinated regional development and responsible globalization.

Faced with the devastating fire at Hongfuyuan that claimed 160 lives, we cannot stop at mourning; we must take action. The Minsi Policy Research Institute released its latest report, "Institutional Loopholes Nurturing Enclosures."

We held a "Digital and Humanities Education Seminar" and a teacher professional development workshop, demonstrating innovative applications of artificial intelligence in curriculum design and teaching, and inspiring cross-disciplinary thinking among teachers and students. Simultaneously, we launched the fourth "# Little Historians" program, where I shared with students the development trajectory of Hong Kong as an international financial, shipping, and trade center, using small phenomena in Hong Kong society to illuminate the broader global landscape. This year's program, supported by Bank of China (Hong Kong), received support from over 50 schools and 150 history-gifted students, putting into practice "learning history outside the classroom," and laying a solid foundation for future history professionals.

Serving as a judge for the "Mingbian Cup" debate competition, I witnessed over thirty teams of young students engage in in-depth discussions on two major topics: "Development of Hong Kong Youth in Mainland China" and "Difficulty for Post-2000s Generation to Rise to the Top." Mainland China offers a variety of opportunities—diverse jobs, broad career advancement prospects, and high recognition of professional qualifications—but the reason students hesitate boils down to one thing: lower salary levels compared to Hong Kong. They revealed a remarkably realistic mindset: a mixture of anticipation for society's future and anxiety about their personal circumstances. Didn't we all experience the same sense of uncertainty when we first entered the workforce? Compared to us post-90s generation, this new generation of youth are digital natives with an amazing ability to adapt, and I believe they are more likely to find their place in this era of transformation.