2025年4月24日(星期四)
2025年度香港特別行政區政府獎學基金及
自資專上教育基金獎學金頒獎典禮
教育局局長蔡若蓮博士致辭全文
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, awardees,
In line with the Hong Kong SAR Government’s policy of promoting bilingualism, I will first address the audience in Cantonese, followed by English.
各位嘉賓、各位校長、各位老師、各位獲獎同學：
很高興出席今天的獎學金頒獎典禮，分享同學得獎的喜悅。首先，我要向所有得獎的同學，致以衷心的祝賀！
教育是強國建設、民族復興之基。二十大報告提出，到2035年建成教育強國的目標。隨著國家教育高速發展，香港教育將迎來黃金十年。在「一國兩制」下，香港教育具有高度國際化和多元化的優勢，擁有一流的大學、優質的基礎教育、優秀的教師團隊。配合國家發展大局，教育局會堅持守正創新，抓住國家「一帶一路」、大灣區等發展機遇，深化香港作為國際專上教育樞紐和人才集聚的角色，鞏固和發展香港教育的優勢。我們現正在全球推廣「留學香港」品牌，通過獎學金等，吸引更多境外尤其是東盟及「一帶一路」國家的學生來港升學。
「香港特別行政區政府獎學基金」及「自資專上教育基金」分別於2008及2011年成立，目的是表揚在不同方面有卓越表現的學生，吸引更多優秀的非本地學生來港就學，以提升香港作為國際專上教育樞紐的地位。兩個獎學金推出至今，已經有超過11萬3千位同學獲獎，涉及獎學金額約24億元，而今個學年的受惠學生超過6 400位。
獎學基金下設的「一帶一路獎學金」，一直廣受相關國家和地區的傑出學生及參與計劃的本地大學歡迎。自2016/17學年推出至今，我們收到了來自亞洲、歐洲、非洲、北美洲以及南美洲72個「一帶一路」國家的提名，累計超過680名來自49個國家的學生獲獎。近年我們已將獎學金名額增加至每年150個，希望吸引更多優秀學生來港升學，同時加強對非本地學生的支援，讓他們在香港求學期間有愉快充實的體驗，增加畢業後留港發展的意欲，一齊說好香港故事。
政府一直致力支持自資與公帑資助專上教育界別並行發展。自資院校在開辦課程享有更大彈性，能夠靈活回應社會不同界別的人力需求，提供多元升學出路。為促進自資界別的健康穩健發展，我們已於3月向立法會提交《2025年專上學院（修訂）條例草案》，期望完善自資院校的監管及質素保證機制，提高治理水平，並為院校拆牆鬆綁，支持自資界別擴容提質。此外，政府亦積極推動職專教育，培育更多應用型人才。目前，香港已有兩所自資院校通過評審，成為應用科學大學。我們亦已支援有潛質的專上院校成立「應用科學大學聯盟」，實行聯動推廣。未來，我們會繼續支持應用科學大學發展，為同學進一步完善職專進階路徑。
在此，我要感謝香港特別行政區政府獎學基金督導委員會、自資專上教育委員會轄下的支援措施小組委員會、兩項基金的投資委員會主席和各委員，以及各參與大專院校的全力支持，與教育局齊心協力，推動兩個獎學金順利運作。
再次祝賀所有得獎同學，希望同學繼續努力充實自己，盡展所長；迎接各種挑戰和機遇，為國家和香港作出貢獻。
I am most delighted to be with you today at the Joint Scholarship Presentation Ceremony for the 2024/25 academic year. First of all, a very warm welcome to those non-Cantonese speaking guests or students attending this Ceremony.
On nurturing talents, the HKSAR Government established the Committee on Education, Technology and Talents to enhance the systemic, holistic and synergistic nature of policies. Based on the manpower demand of Hong Kong's strategic positioning of "eight centres", the Committee aims to promote integrated development of education, technology and talent from the top and fully implement the work of invigorating the country through science and education. EDB will proactively develop Hong Kong as an international post-secondary education hub, including promoting the “Study in Hong Kong” brand globally, and attracting more international students, particularly those from the ASEAN and Belt and Road countries, to study in Hong Kong through providing scholarships or other initiatives.
The Belt and Road Scholarship has gained significant recognition from countries and regions along the Belt and Road since its launch. We have received nominations from 72 countries up to the 2024/25 academic year; whilst the annual quota for the Scholarship has been increased from the initial 10 to 150 starting from the 2024/25 academic year. The number of scholarship awardees has exceeded 680 coming from 49 Belt and Road countries. EDB will continue to collaborate with participating local universities to further promote the Scholarship to ASEAN and other Belt and Road countries. It will also support these universities in improving campus facilities and providing support to foster student integration, ensuring that non-local students have a fulfilling and enjoyable experience of studying in Hong Kong.
I hope you have found Hong Kong to be a fascinating and welcoming home away from home. This city is known for its inclusiveness and richness in social, cultural or lifestyle aspects. Beyond being a cosmopolitan hub, Hong Kong offers an abundance of beautiful mountains and stunning beaches, all easily assessable via efficient transportation. The city also boasts a diverse food scene with ample choices. In addition, Hong Kong provides an amazing platform for career development, offering plenty of jobs and opportunities on a level playing field. Both local and non-local students are most welcomed and encouraged to consider starting and pursuing their careers in this vibrant and truly international city.
Last but not least, I wish you every success in your future endeavours and look forward to seeing your incredible contributions to society. Thank you.
