John Lee says talent policy will follow demand
Thestandard · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago2 MIN
Summary
Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said Hong Kong’s talent policy will be guided by actual demand, with a study on talent needs and overall manpower requirements due within the year. He made the comments at the second district forum for Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan and the 2026 policy address, where residents also raised concerns about housing, the birth rate and the shrinking labour force.
Key Points
- Lee spoke at a two-hour district forum held at Kowloon Tong Government Primary School on Hong Kong’s first Five-Year Plan and 2026 policy address .
- About 120 participants attended, alongside Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po and Deputy Secretary for Justice Horace Cheung Kwok-kwan .
- Responding to concerns over labour shortages, Lee said talent admission policies will follow a demand-driven principle and match imported talent to real needs .
- He said the government will publish findings on talent demand and overall manpower requirements within the year to guide future policy .
- On housing, Lee said the public housing waiting list fell from a peak of 150,000 applicants to about 100,000, roughly one-third lower .
Why It Matters
The government is tying talent admission more closely to labour market needs as Hong Kong faces a shrinking workforce and wider debate over economic development priorities . Lee’s remarks also place housing supply, fertility support and youth policy within the same long-term planning exercise ahead of the 2026 policy address .