With more technology companies nurturing artificial intelligence professionals in Hong Kong, the city can better leverage technology and innovation to drive economic development, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po said in his Sunday blog.
In the 2025-2026 Budget, Chan proposed inviting large technology enterprises based in the special administrative region to provide greater support for technological education, such as technical guidance and practice opportunities.
Hong Kong Investment Company, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation and Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company have been invited to coordinate with their partners and startup technology companies in sharing their cutting-edge technology exploration and entrepreneurial experience through product demonstrations at school, or by allowing students to visit the companies on site.
At Wetech for Good - an event organized by Shenzhen-based tech giant Tencent on Saturday - middle school students shared with Chan the programming skills they’ve acquired, such as optimizing and improving program interface and operation with simpler instructions through AI.
“If students can solve problems in their studies and daily life through technology and the AI knowledge they’ve learned, their interest in science will be enlightened, and their passion for pursuing dreams in the innovative and technological field will be ignited,” Chan said.
The event saw the establishment of the first youth innovation and technology academy.
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The academy aims to accelerate programming training and AI learning on campus, including through a one-stop cloud development learning space and interesting teaching tools, combining AI programming with large-scale model applications, so that teachers and students can better master AI development skills in practice.
The college will hold a global youth programming competition to encourage young people to observe real problems in society, and combine the programming knowledge they’ve acquired before proposing innovative technological solutions for various problems and pain points.
Chan said he’s encouraging more technology companies to join in cultivating local talents and providing them more job opportunities.
“Last month, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation held a themed job fair, with more than 150 companies engaged in artificial intelligence offering more than 1,000 innovative and technological positions in areas like software development, data analysis and large-scale model algorithms,” he said.
“Cyberport will also hold a two-day AI-focused job fair, with more than 580 companies and organizations offering over 2,000 positions, of which about 60 percent are AI-related.”
According to the finance chief, HKIC will enter into a strategic partnership with a technology company focusing on RISC-V - a technology for chip designing with great potential -- to accelerate the implementation of related industries and talent cultivation in Hong Kong.
HKIC will also host the first Hong Kong RISC-V development summit with the technology company to showcase the SAR’s unique role and potential in this field. Secondary school students will be invited to the event to enable them to learn the latest trends in the chip industry.
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“Strengthening the cultivation and attraction of innovative and technological talents, and promoting the deep integration of science, technology and industry will inject key and exciting momentum into the high-quality development of Hong Kong's economy.” Chan said.
