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Over the past year, the Youth Diplomacy Academy has provided students with a platform to understand national development and international affairs through systematic training, field exchanges, and various competitions, further broadening their horizons and enhancing their critical thinking and analytical skills. It is a pleasure to witness the students' growth and achievements, and to officially launch the Academy's latest publication, "The Path of the Great Way," at the graduation ceremony. This new generation of "youth diplomats" is demonstrating to the world the depth of thought among Hong Kong's youth. Hong Kong's future lies in its ability to cultivate "super-value-added individuals" who understand both China's national conditions and international rules. We are very grateful to Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung for taking the time to attend and encourage the graduates to continue to care about national development and look to the world. We will continue to work with all sectors to cultivate more future pillars of Hong Kong and the nation who dare to take responsibility and practice people-to-people diplomacy.

I was invited to serve as a judge and award presenter for the 4th "Three Regions Children's Voices Cup" Speech Contest Finals and the 5th "Contending Cup" Debate Challenge. Two stages, two formats, yet I witnessed the same heartening power—a new generation of youth understanding the world with a broader vision and more independent thinking. In the debate competition, students demonstrated critical thinking skills that transcended classroom frameworks, ranging from the public responsibility of food bloggers and food safety to comparisons of Hong Kong and Singapore's development models. In the speech competition, children connected personal observations with social concern through sharing history, culture, science, and stories from their hometowns, showing their curiosity and spirit of exploration. This also made me reflect again: do we place too much emphasis on "winning first place"? Compared to rankings and awards, the greatest value of competition lies in growth and reflection. Whether it's debate or speech, its essence is not just about persuading others, but about learning to think independently, establish judgments, and find better answers to complex social issues through exchange and interaction. I especially encouraged students to refuse to be "repeaters" and to bravely express their own views; at the same time, to build connections with society through real-life observations. Because the ultimate goal of education has never been to cultivate people who are good at memorizing, but rather to cultivate people who can think, express themselves, care about society, and create value. Watching these young people speak confidently on stage, I feel full of confidence in Hong Kong's future social development and intergenerational continuity. However, in this era of artificial intelligence and information overload, are we ultimately raising a group of competitive children, or a group of future citizens who know how to think and change the world?

I was invited to serve as a judge and award presenter for the 4th "Three Regions Children's Voices Cup" Speech Contest Finals and the 5th "Contending Cup" Debate Challenge. Two stages, two formats, yet I witnessed the same heartening power—a new generation of youth understanding the world with a broader vision and more independent thinking. In the debate competition, students demonstrated critical thinking skills that transcended classroom frameworks, ranging from the public responsibility of food bloggers and food safety to comparisons of Hong Kong and Singapore's development models. In the speech competition, children connected personal observations with social concern through sharing history, culture, science, and stories from their hometowns, showing their curiosity and spirit of exploration. This also made me reflect again: do we place too much emphasis on "winning first place"? Compared to rankings and awards, the greatest value of competition lies in growth and reflection. Whether it's debate or speech, its essence is not just about persuading others, but about learning to think independently, establish judgments, and find better answers to complex social issues through exchange and interaction. I especially encouraged students to refuse to be "repeaters" and to bravely express their own views; at the same time, to build connections with society through real-life observations. Because the ultimate goal of education has never been to cultivate people who are good at memorizing, but rather to cultivate people who can think, express themselves, care about society, and create value. Watching these young people speak confidently on stage, I feel full of confidence in Hong Kong's future social development and intergenerational continuity. However, in this era of artificial intelligence and information overload, are we ultimately raising a group of competitive children, or a group of future citizens who know how to think and change the world?

This morning, China released a white paper titled "Building a More Just and Reasonable Global Governance System: China's Concepts, Initiatives and Actions." In an interview with RTHK, I pointed out that in recent years, some Western countries have adopted unilateral sanctions and tariffs—actions akin to "speaking with force"—which have severely damaged the existing international security and economic order. The release of this white paper demonstrates that China has comprehensively elevated itself in the global governance system from a "participant" and "funder" to a core role as a "guarantor" and "leader." As China's voice in international governance steadily increases, its commitment to a multilateral governance model is gaining support from a large number of "Global South" countries. The "Global South" represents a vast population and diverse cultures, where the rules of world development are no longer dictated by a single camp.

I attended the "2026 Sichuan-Hong Kong Education Cooperation New Ecosystem Exchange Conference" at Chengdu Jinjiang College. This grand event brought together nearly 50 education leaders and experts from Sichuan and Hong Kong to discuss how to build an efficient talent cultivation platform in the context of deep integration between the two regions. In my keynote speech, titled "Why Students Should Do Research," I shared my insights into the core requirements of modern talent. I proposed that, facing global academic and professional competition, Hong Kong universities and world-renowned universities no longer simply consider students' written test scores; students' "research literacy"—that is, the ability to identify problems, reason logically, and solve complex problems—is the key to breaking through. During the conference, I also had the opportunity to exchange ideas with experts such as Zou Guangyan, former Vice Governor of Sichuan Province and founding principal of the school, Duan Zengyong, Director of the Sichuan Academy of Educational Sciences, and Yang Yongjun, Director of the Sichuan Provincial Middle School Principals Association. We unanimously agreed that Sichuan-Hong Kong education cooperation should transcend traditional inter-school exchanges and shift towards in-depth resource sharing and practical path alignment. By exposing students to global issues early on, we are building a competitive advantage for young people from both regions to the future.

I traveled to four districts in Hong Kong—Kwun Tong, Wong Tai Sin, Sha Tin, and Tai Po—to teach and exchange ideas with students from the "Young Diplomats Academy." During this time, I shared an introduction to international relations and the development of China's foreign policy with dozens of young people from diverse backgrounds. Through in-depth interaction, we explored how young people can develop a fundamental perspective on understanding the world and recognizing China's role amidst global changes. Providing young people with a structured understanding of global affairs remains a crucial part of youth development. I hope that through continued teaching and exchange, we can cultivate a new generation with an international perspective and strategic thinking.

Two hundred students participated in the "Budget ONLINE@M21" event, engaging in in-depth discussions with Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po on the "Budget for 2026-27." The Secretary introduced the latest budget to the youth and discussed various topics including the economy, tourism, technology, people's livelihood, and the development of the northern region. The students responded enthusiastically, raising numerous specific questions and voting on policy directions of interest on the spot, engaging in genuine and candid dialogue with the Secretary. The event allowed young people to directly express their views and enabled policymakers to gain a more comprehensive understanding of youth's observations and expectations regarding public finance and social development. We thank all the participating students for demonstrating their concern for public policy through their actions and for injecting more youthful perspectives into discussions about Hong Kong's future.

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.