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[Press Release]
2 August 2025
Hong Kong Academy of Politics and Public Policy 2024-2025 Graduation Ceremony
Today marks a significant occasion with the commencement of the seventh cohort of the "Senior Executive Diploma in Political Leadership," a collaborative initiative between the Hong Kong Academy of Politics and Public Policy (HKAPP) and the HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education (HKUSPACE). The ceremony also celebrated the graduation of the seventh cohort, featuring Mr. Lam Ting-kwok, Secretary for Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as the guest of honor.
In his speech, Mr. Lam highlighted that this year's graduates of both the "Senior Executive Diploma in Political Leadership" and the "Premier Programme in Leadership and Public Affairs" come from diverse professional backgrounds, including healthcare, civil service, engineering, social work, and education. In his speech, the Secretary emphasized that politics is an art of balance. He hoped that the political wisdom and leadership skills accumulated by the graduates through the course would be transformed into practical actions to serve society. All parties expect them to leverage their diverse professional backgrounds, excel in their respective fields, actively tell the Hong Kong story—the true story of Hong Kong—and inject new momentum into Hong Kong's long-term progress. The Secretary also looks forward to young people demonstrating courage in engaging in social development, while maintaining patience, assessing the situation wisely, and seizing the right timing for advancement. This aligns with the spirit of President Xi Jinping's important speech in Macao in December 2024—President Xi clearly stated at that time that compatriots in Hong Kong and Macao should work together to seize national development opportunities, jointly maintain prosperity and stability, and join hands to build a better Hong Kong.
Mr. Ronny Tong Ka-wah, Honorary sponsor of the Academy and Convener of Path of Democracy, stated at the graduation ceremony that middle school students and young people he has recently encountered in various settings are very concerned about Hong Kong's future, and even consult him on how to view and grasp Hong Kong's development. This is precisely the purpose of launching such courses—to seize the current development opportunities, tell the Hong Kong story well, personally participate in writing the Hong Kong story, and contribute to Hong Kong's sustained development. In his sharing, he noted that the newly launched short-term course "Premier Programme in Leadership and Public Affairs" this year has received an enthusiastic response, with participants' qualifications reaching a new historical high. This demonstrates their strong interest in public affairs and fills us with aspirations for cultivating future leaders.
About the Course
The "Premier Programme in Leadership and Public Affairs" is a five-week short course designed to deepen participants' understanding of Hong Kong's political framework and public policy-making processes. This year, the course will commence in early October and will feature distinguished lecturers, including Professor Edward Chen, Professor Anthony Cheung, and Mr. Jasper Tsang, among others. The participant demographic is broad, encompassing professionals from various industries, fostering a rich exchange of perspectives.
Previous cohorts have had the opportunity to visit Beijing for exchanges with research institutions and were received by Mr. Xia Baolong, the Director of the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office of the State Council, enhancing their understanding of national policies. Graduates commonly report that the course not only deepened their understanding of local politics but also significantly contributed to their professional development.
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