'Nurture youngsters in I&T sector'
Chief Executive John Lee said on Monday that the government wants to enlarge the innovation and technology talent pool to maintain the SAR's competitive edge in the sector. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Laureate Forum, an event which aims to promote science and technology to youngsters, he said the government is sparing no efforts and resources when it comes to boosting I&T. Lee said nurturing, attracting and retaining talent is essential to the development of the sector. "We strive to promote science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics, or Steam education in schools. We are introducing science as a subject in primary schools, launching support programmes for the mathematics curriculum and helping schools to identify and nurture local Steam elites at the school level," he said.  "At the same time, various other initiatives, including the STEM Internship Scheme and Research Talent Hub, will continue to cultivate talents at different learning stages."  Lee added that the SAR has also attracted many top enterprises to expand the sector. "In the past year, we have already secured 30 key enterprises' expansion or establishment in Hong Kong. They all come from the strategic industries of life science, AI, fintech, advanced manufacturing and new-energy technology," he said.  "These companies alone will invest nearly US$4 billion here and create 10,000 jobs in the coming years."