William Wong Kam-fai, a member of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, who is also associate dean of the Faulty of Engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, introduces on Wednesday his proposals to further strengthen coordination among cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. (WILLIAM XU / CHINA DAILY)

Facilitating the flow of the labor force with technical know-how within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area can help fill the gap in Hong Kong’s talent drive and staff the city’s ambitions to turn itself into a global innovation and technology center, said tech guru and national political adviser William Wong Kam-fai, proposing that closer cross-border education ties include vocational training.

Wong, a Hong Kong member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) — the country’s top political advisory body — made his remarks in an interview with China Daily on the sidelines of the annual gathering of the CPPCC.

Data from the Census and Statistics Department show that Hong Kong’s labor force decreased by around 12,800 in the November to January period from the preceding three-month period

In one of his proposals this year, he suggested that the Vocational Training Council — the largest vocational and professional education and training provider in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region — should set up vocational training branches in the Greater Bay Area’s mainland cities. Students attending those mainland branches should also be eligible to apply for employment in the SAR upon graduation.

READ MORE: Vocational education partnership promotes alignment with national development strategies

In Wong’s view, an influx of technical workers with hands-on experience would be beneficial to Hong Kong, as the Asian financial hub is grappling with a manpower shortage across sectors in its efforts to develop new growth drivers. 

Last year, Hong Kong’s GDP grew by a weaker-than-expected 3.2 percent from a contraction in 2022. Diversifying the city’s economy — which has raised its standing thanks to its financial prowess — is high on Hong Kong officials’ agenda, with the innovation and technology sector leading the charge.  

However, a downward trend in its working population has sparked concerns over the city’s prospects. Data from the Census and Statistics Department show that Hong Kong’s labor force decreased by around 12,800 in the November to January period from the preceding three-month period. Total employment declined by around 9,800 over the same period. 

To trawl for the brightest minds outside Hong Kong, the SAR government has announced a string of measures, including the launch of its Top Talent Pass program aimed at offering visas to qualified high-income workers and top university graduates. 

Apart from top talent, there is also a labor shortage in the middle spectrum of the occupation hierarchy, including those who are qualified to work in the information technology, electrical and mechanical engineering, construction, aviation, maritime, and logistics sectors, said Wong.

According to the Guangdong provincial government, the Greater Bay Area population reached 86 million as of last year, as compared with Hong Kong’s 7.5 million 

Highlighting the Greater Bay Area’s “special” role in the country’s development, Wong said that the 11-city cluster boasts an abundant talent pool that is poised to rev up Hong Kong’s growth engine alongside workers with technical know-how. 

According to the Guangdong provincial government, the Greater Bay Area population reached 86 million as of last year, as compared with Hong Kong’s 7.5 million. 

“Many young people in GBA mainland cities aspire to have quality jobs; on the other hand, Hong Kong is still in need of engineers and other technical professionals. So why not integrate and collaborate on this front between the two sides?” Wong said. 

A tech pundit, Wong is also a Hong Kong lawmaker and an associate dean of the faculty of engineering at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. “Talent cultivation” has been an issue that he has long cared about.

READ MORE: Measures needed to clear bottlenecks for development of vocational education 

Cross-border collaboration has borne fruit in tertiary education as several universities in Hong Kong have expanded their presence in the GBA’s mainland cities. A case in point is the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, which opened a new campus in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, in 2022. Students studying in the mainland branches are eligible to apply for working visas in the SAR. 

A similar move in vocational training will help complement Hong Kong’s efforts to woo talent, and will also enable more mainland graduates to obtain internationally recognized certificates under the SAR’s developed training system, said Wong.

“This will also open a new door for the mainland young generation’s global vision,” he added.