Chief Executive John Lee outlined plans to develop Hong Kong into an international tertiary education hub in his Policy Address with various measures such as creating the "Study in Hong Kong" brand and encouraging more local students to pursue advanced studies.

The government will encourage local post-secondary institutions to enhance collaboration with their counterparts around the world in promoting the "Study in Hong Kong" brand on a global scale, with an aim to attract more overseas students to study here.

Lee added Hong Kong will strive to host international education conferences and exhibitions.

The CE also announced the setting up of the Hong Kong Future Talents Scholarship Scheme for Advanced Studies from the 2025/26 academic year, offering scholarships each year to up to 1,200 local students enrolling in designated postgraduate programmes.

With a projected shortage of 180,000 workers across different sectors in Hong Kong in the next five years, Lee said the government will reform its talent admission schemes to try to attract more staff from overseas.

It'll add 13 top mainland and overseas universities to the list of institutions under the Top Talent Pass Scheme, raising the total to 198, and the validity period of the first visa of high-income talent will be extended from two to three years.

Among the other measures is the introduction of a new mechanism under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, inviting top talent to come here for development.

The government will set up a new committee – the Committee on Education, Technology and Talents – to coordinate the integrated development of those fields. It'll be led by the chief secretary.