HKSAR Chief Executive meets Team Hong Kong from WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition and commends city’s skilled talent

The WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition concluded in November saw Team Hong Kong achieve its best-ever results, winning one Gold Medal and 12 Medallions for Excellence. This Tuesday (10 January) Mr John LEE, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) met with the skilled young competitors at Government House and commended their efforts in bringing honour to Hong Kong on the International stage.

Meeting with the Team Hong Kong, Mr LEE said that it was encouraging to know Team Hong Kong had achieved its best result this time. The competitors have not only showed their talent and determination to the world, but also marked a significant milestone for the development of Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET) in Hong Kong. Their tireless efforts were highly recognised. Mr Lee noted that the government adopted the strategy of fostering industry-institution collaboration and diversified development to promote VPET as a pathway parallel to conventional academic education, providing diversified learning and employment opportunities for young people and training up high calibre talent for local industry. He said, “We will further promote the professional image of VPET and make VPET as a valued and attractive pathway for young people. I look forward to a stronger role played by the industry to drive more quality VPET learning experience for students, working hand in hand with the government to groom local talents in great demand.”

Into its 46th competition, the WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition was held across various countries and regions. Hong Kong sent a team of 30 competitors to ten countries in different cohorts between September and November in 2022, accompanied by experts in their respective trades, joining 26 skills competitions. Hong Kong’s Gold Medal came in the Visual Merchandising competition, the third Gold netted since Hong Kong first joined the WorldSkills Competition in 1997. The team also won Medallions for Excellence in 12 skills competitions, namely Mechatronics, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, 3D Digital Game Art, Cloud Computing, Mobile Applications Development, Information Network Cabling, Welding, Mobile Robotics, Digital Construction, Hairdressing, Fashion Technology and Restaurant Service. This is a record number of awards for Hong Kong, testifying to the globally-benchmarked skill levels of the city’s competitors.

At Government House this Tuesday, the Hong Kong competitors and experts shared their memorable experiences at the competition with the Chief Executive and other guests including Dr CHOI Yuk-lin, Secretary for Education; Dr Clement CHEN, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Youth Skills Competition; Mr Paul CHONG, Deputy Chairman of Vocational Training Council (VTC); Ir Thomas HO, Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (CIC); and Mr Richard CHENG, Chairman of the Clothing Industry Training Authority (CITA). LEUNG Ka-yu, Hong Kong’s Gold Medallist in the Visual Merchandising competition, and a graduate of the Higher Diploma in Design for Event, Exhibition and Performance programme with the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI), shared the excitement of winning the Gold Medal. From preparation to onsite performance, Ka-yu has overcome all challenges to make it possible for her to stand on the top position of the podium.

Ricky LEUNG, Hong Kong’s expert for the Mechatronics competition and a Lecturer of Department of Engineering of the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), was himself a Medallion for Excellence winner for the same trade in 2015. He was able to pass on his skills and experience to his students, two of whom emulated his achievement by winning their own Medallion for Excellence in the 2022 Special Edition. Ricky noted that his past experience in the same competition allowed him to help competitors better grasp the requirements and enhance psychological stability in face of challenges. He hoped more young people could understand the value of skills through this international competition.

Meanwhile, Team Hong Kong made a number of breakthroughs in the 2022 Special Edition. For one, all three organising parties of the WorldSkills Hong Kong Competition, namely VTC, CIC and CITA, saw competitors they fielded for the international Special Edition bring home prizes. LAM Man-chun, entered by CIC in the Welding competition, won a Medallion for Excellence. He was proud to represent Hong Kong in the WorldSkills Competition. He hoped he could bring the welding technique and skills acquired in the past two years into the industry, so that people could know more about the trade of welding. Another Medallion for Excellence winner, Nisham LIMBU, student of the Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Fashion Design programme with the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), was trained by a CITA expert for the Fashion Technology skills competition. She commented that this competition made her childhood dream come true. She has developed her interest into a profession. Comparing notes with other young skilled talents from all over the world in the competition, she has sharpened her time management and problem-solving skills.

Hailed as the “Skills Olympics”, the biennial WorldSkills Competition is the world’s largest skills competition, aimed at raising awareness of Vocational and Professional Education and Training (VPET) and skills training in the international community. The 2022 Special Edition attracted over 1,000 talented young people from nearly 60 countries and regions. It was the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong’s first participation in 1997. Team Hong Kong has cumulatively won three Gold, one Silver and five Bronze prizes, as well as 71 Medallions for Excellence. The 47th WorldSkills Competition will take place at Lyon, France in 2024.

Established in 1982, the Vocational Training Council (VTC) is the largest vocational and professional education and training provider in Hong Kong. The mission of VTC is to provide a valued choice to school leavers and working people to acquire the values, knowledge and skills for lifelong learning and enhanced employability, and also to provide support to industries for their manpower development. VTC has 13 member institutions,namely the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi), the Institute of Professional Education And Knowledge (PEAK), the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE), the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE), the Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI), the Hotel and Tourism Institute (HTI),  the Chinese Culinary Institute (CCI), the International Culinary Institute (ICI), the Maritime Services Training Institute (MSTI), Youth College, Pro-Act by VTC, the Integrated Vocational Development Centre (IVDC) and the Shine Skills Centre.

Website: www.vtc.edu.hk

Media Enquiries: 2836 1869

Annex 1: WorldSkills Competition 2022 Special Edition
Result of Hong Kong Team