University Grants Committee welcomes "The Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address"

The Chairman of the University Grants Committee (UGC), Mr Carlson Tong, welcomed the new initiative announced in "The Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address" today (October 19) to increase the number of UGC-funded research postgraduate (RPg) places from 5 595 at present to 7 200 in the 2024/25 academic year by phases.

Mr Tong said, "The additional funded RPg places as announced in the Policy Address is a major initiative which will expand the talent pool of Hong Kong's research community and help UGC-funded universities reach new heights in research excellence. In conjunction with the progressive relaxation of the over-enrolment ceiling of UGC-funded RPg programmes from 70 per cent to 100 per cent as announced by the Government last year, the two initiatives will increase the enrolment of RPg students in our universities by over 50 per cent. This fully demonstrates the Government's commitment to supporting Hong Kong's research development. With the additional RPg places, the universities will be able to nurture more young talents and dedicate more research efforts to supporting the Government's policy to develop Hong Kong into the "eight centres" as envisaged in the National 14th Five-Year Plan, including the goal of developing Hong Kong into an international innovation and technology hub.

"The UGC will join hands with the UGC-funded universities to implement the increase in the number of UGC-funded RPg places in an expeditious and effective manner, and support the universities to contribute further towards Hong Kong's strategic development in the years to come," Mr Tong added.

The Policy Address also sets out the Government's vision on how the UGC-funded universities may support the nurturing of talents for the strategic priorities of Hong Kong. Mr Tong welcomed the introduction of specific targets in respect of students for programmes related to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) education and the "eight centres" under the National 14th Five-Year Plan over the next five years. He also expressed support for the suite of initiatives that aim to attract and retain talents from both the Mainland and Belt and Road countries for consolidating Hong Kong's unique strengths of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world amidst keen international competition. To this end, the UGC will work with the UGC-funded universities towards achieving an even greater degree of internationalisation, as well as broadening the international outlook of local students.