A social sciences scholar from the University of Hong Kong, Paul Yip, said on Saturday that nurturing local talent is just as important as attracting it from elsewhere.

The Chief Executive, John Lee, has indicated that bringing international talent here will be a keystone of his maiden Policy Address next week.

Yip said that while attracting outside talent is important, Hong Kong's own young people provide a solid and reliable talent pool, especially as they see Hong Kong as their home.

"Please try to reserve sufficient resources to develop our local talent as well. I mean, five of the Hong Kong universities are ranked among the [world's] top 100 universities," he told RTHK after attending a radio programme.

"So each year, there are more than 10,000 graduates also looking for opportunities."

The associate dean of HKU's social sciences faculty added that if resources are concentrated on importing foreign talent, that may widen the city's wealth gap further.

He noted that nearly two-thirds of grassroots workers said their incomes had shrunk during the pandemic as they struggle to make ends meet.

Yip said society should reflect on whether low-income earners are being neglected, and argued that resources should be shared among different groups.