Third-term Human Resources Planning Commission convenes fourth meeting
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The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, today (August 21) chaired the fourth meeting of the third-term Human Resources Planning Commission.
At the meeting, representatives of the Vocational Training Council (VTC) briefed members on the implementation of the new Vocational Professionals Admission Scheme (VPAS) pursuant to the 2023 Policy Address. Under the VPAS, non-local students enrolled in the 27 designated VTC’s full-time higher diploma programmes for two academic years from 2024/25 can apply for staying in Hong Kong for one year after graduation to seek jobs relevant to their disciplines. The VTC started promoting the VPAS early this year through social media platforms, physical events, printed media and direct engagements. Members offered views on the design, implementation and promotion-related details of the VPAS.
Moreover, representatives of the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau briefed members on the $10 billion New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme (NIAS) to be launched by the Government later this year. Members welcomed the provision of financial assistance under the NIAS to encourage enterprises from industries of strategic importance (i.e. life and health technology, artificial intelligence and data science, as well as advanced manufacturing and new energy technologies) to set up new smart production facilities in Hong Kong. Members were pleased to learn that the NIAS encourages enterprises to carry out or increase their scale of research and development in Hong Kong by providing additional funding for them to engage research talent, and facilitates enterprises’ employment of non-local talent required for setting up or operating new production facilities in Hong Kong.