Speech by Acting CE at World Class University Presidents Forum 2026 (English only) (with photo)
Following is the speech by the Acting Chief Executive, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the World Class University Presidents Forum 2026 today (November 4):
Minister Huai (Minister of Education, Mr Huai Jinpeng), Deputy Director Sun (Deputy Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Sun Shangwu), President Lin (President of the China Association of Higher Education, Ms Lin Huiqing), Professor Shum (Council Chairman of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Harry Shum), Professor Ip (President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Professor Nancy Ip), distinguished university presidents, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning. It is a pleasure to welcome you all to the World Class University Presidents Forum 2026 here in Asia’s World City, Hong Kong. I extend my warmest greetings to presidents, leaders, and scholars of world-renowned universities, and to esteemed representatives from around the world, gathered here at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
We meet under the theme “Higher Education Reimagined: Innovating for the Future”. This theme speaks to our time. We live in an age of rapid technological change, systemic economic shifts, and unprecedented global challenges. In this transformative landscape, universities are no longer just communities of learning and skills development. They are engines of innovation, guardians of truth, and architects of our collective future.
For Hong Kong, higher education has always been a vital pillar of our success. We are proud to be a global hub for education and talent. We are the only city in the world with five universities in the global top 100. And the latest QS Asia University Rankings, released just yesterday, again show the strength of our higher education system – Hong Kong has five universities in Asia’s top 10, and three in Asia’s top five.
This is not by chance. It is the result of sustained government investment, clear policy direction and the hard work of our universities. It reflects our commitment to excellence, openness, academic freedom and institutional autonomy.
But Hong Kong is not standing still. To keep our competitive edge and lead in this new era, we must continually expand our horizons and align closely with national development.
We published Hong Kong’s first-ever Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development in September this year, and this historic blueprint shows our commitment to accelerating the integrated development of education, technology, and talent.
A prime example of our forward-looking strategy is the development of the Northern Metropolis University Town. The Northern Metropolis is in northern Hong Kong and adjoins Shenzhen. We will build three university towns there. Each will have a campus area, a technology area, an industry area and a living community area. Under our “One Town, Five Elements” approach, we will integrate education, technology, industry, talent and urban development to drive the overall development of the university towns. Together with the surrounding technology, industry and living community areas, the three university towns will cover more than 1 000 hectares.
And together with the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Zone, which consists of the Hong Kong Park and the Shenzhen Park and located on the two sides of the Shenzhen River, the university towns will be Hong Kong’s main launchpad into the Greater Bay Area. They will drive innovation and serve our nation’s future.
We are committed to building world-class university towns. They will blend top-tier education, cutting-edge research, and vibrant living. Government, industry and investors will work together to turn brilliant ideas into economic growth.
Our commitment to internationalisation is firm. Our flagship “Study in Hong Kong” initiative is transforming Hong Kong into an international education hub. We have expanded non-local student quotas at publicly funded institutions, enhanced government scholarship schemes, and rolled out targeted talent initiatives to attract top global scholars and researchers. We welcome students from the Chinese Mainland, the Belt and Road countries and regions, and around the world. We welcome you to join our vibrant, multicultural academic community.
Hong Kong is a bridge between the Mainland and the global higher education system. We are opening doors for our youth to engage with diverse cultures and cutting-edge ideas. By nurturing globally-minded innovators, we plant the seeds for a more collaborative and prosperous world.
Distinguished presidents and friends, the challenges of our century — climate change, public health crises, and the ethical governance of AI — demand deep cross-border co-operation and collective wisdom. No single institution, no single nation or place can solve these issues alone.
This Forum is a valuable platform for meaningful dialogue, alliance-building and shared vision. As you deliberate over the coming days on the future of universities, intelligent-age education, and sustainable economic growth, I encourage you to build visionary partnerships and inspire new pathways for higher education. Let us seize this opportunity to chart a bolder, brighter course for higher education worldwide, and ensure our institutions continue to light the way for generations to come.
In closing, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Education for its unwavering guidance, and to the China Association of Higher Education, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and all co-organisers and supporting bodies for their dedication in bringing this magnificent event to life.
I wish the Forum great success. To our overseas guests, I wish you a most memorable and fruitful stay in Hong Kong. Thank you very much.
