The opening ceremony of the “Kowloon General Chamber of Commerce 24th New Era Executive Management Elite Training Program and Entrepreneurship Competition 2026”, organized by the Kowloon General Chamber of Commerce and co-organized by the School of Communication, Hang Seng University, Hong Kong.
The 24th Kowloon Chamber of Commerce Management Leadership Training Programme for the New Century 2026 cum Entrepreneurship Competition, organised by the Kowloon Chamber of Commerce(“KCC”) and co-presented with the School of Communication at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong(“HSUHK”), concluded successfully in August. This year’s programme received an enthusiastic response, attracting more than 200 young talents from Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and other regions. Following a rigorous multi-stage selection process, 60 outstanding students advanced to the final programme. They not only took part in business site visits and academic exchanges in Hong Kong and Macau but also presented their meticulously crafted business plans on the final day, fully showcasing their entrepreneurial potential.
The New Century Elite Development Programme has brought together over 2,700 outstanding university students from around the world since 1998. Now in its 24th edition, KCC co-presents this year’s programme with the School of Communication at HSUHK, for the first time structured as a full entrepreneurship competition. Bringing together participants from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds, the competition created a cross-regional platform for entrepreneurial exchange, encouraging students to deepen their understanding of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area while developing ideas with global relevance.
Officiating guests and distinguished attendees pose for a group photo following the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“The 24th Kowloon Chamber of Commerce Management Leadership Training Programme for the New Century 2026 cum Entrepreneurship Competition” was held for the first time structured as a full entrepreneurship competition, attracting over 200 students from around the world, with 60 outstanding finalists advancing to the finals to compete for top accolades.
Government, Business Leaders and Academia Inspire Youth to Lead the Future Through Innovation
Dr Bernard Chan Pak-li, JP, Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, served as one of the officiating guests at the opening ceremony. In his remarks, he described youth entrepreneurship as an important source of momentum for Hong Kong’s economic diversification and long-term development. As Hong Kong continues to strengthen its role as an international innovation and technology hub and a core engine of the Greater Bay Area, he noted that policy resources and funding schemes remain essential to nurturing a fertile environment for start-ups. He encouraged the students to make full use of the opportunity for cross-regional exchange, broaden their horizons and turn ambition into practical action as they prepare for their future entrepreneurial journeys.
Dr Bernard Chan Pak-li, JP, Under Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, delivers remarks at the opening ceremony.
Mr Leung Kam-tong, President of the KCC’s 43rd-term Council, said in his welcome address that the Chamber has long upheld its mission of nurturing talent and fostering enterprise. He noted that the programme continues a tradition of more than two decades in cultivating innovative young talent and expressed his hope that participants would use creativity as their edge, break through conventional boundaries and grow into future leaders in entrepreneurship and management. He added that the diverse profile of this year’s participants reflected the programme’s international vision and growing influence.
Mr Leung Kam-tong, President of the KCC, delivers the welcome address.
Professor Scarlet Tso, Dean of the School of Communication at HSUHK, said the School was honoured to co-organise this year’s event with KCC. She noted that this year’s programme, held under the theme Innovation Changes the World, integrated systematic training with hands-on competition. With 60 students from different regions bringing varied cultural perspectives and experiences, the programme fostered meaningful exchange and inspired new ways of thinking. Professor Tso expressed confidence that the experience would help participants bridge theory and practice, broaden their global outlook and develop the capacity to become future drivers of change.
Professor Scarlet Tso, Dean of the School of Communication at HSUHK, delivers her remarks.
Expert Lectures and Start-up Dialogues Inspire Innovation, Hong Kong and Macau Site Visits Deepen Innovation and Technology Insights
This year’s programme consisted of two major segments. Following the first-round selection, 60 students advanced to a five-day final week held in Hong Kong and Macao, where they engaged in a stimulating mix of training sessions and competitive activities that combined strategic learning with practical application. Professor Tso led a seminar on Brand Communication and Marketing Strategy, examining the core strategies behind building brand influence and effective market promotion.
The programme also featured founders of emerging start-ups, including Locobike bike-sharing, Wada Bento and Soy-Sky Farmtech Company Limited, who shared the strategies, challenges and business philosophies behind their entrepreneurial journeys. In the Dialogue with Future Entrepreneurial Elites session, Mr Peter Mok, General Manager, Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub, joined students for an in-depth discussion on emerging trends in the Greater Bay Area and new approaches to entrepreneurial thinking.
Mr Peter Mok, General Manager of the Qianhai Shenzhen-Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneur Hub, shares insights with students during the Dialogue with Future Entrepreneurial Elites session.
To broaden participants’ understanding of applied innovation and the commercialisation of research outcomes, the programme organised a series of site visits in Hong Kong and Macao. Students first visited the School of Communication’s Film and Television Production Centre at HSUHK, where they experienced professional audiovisual equipment and production workflows firsthand. They then travelled to Macao to visit the University of Macau’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship and Institute for the Study of Commercial Gaming, gaining insight into how higher education institutions translate research into practical applications.
Participants also visited Hong Kong Science Park’s Innovation Hub and start-up incubation facilities, where they learned more about Hong Kong’s innovation ecosystem, incubation support and business opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
Students visit the University of Macau’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship to learn about mechanisms for translating academic research into practical outcomes.
Students visit Hong Kong Science Park’s Innovation Hub for a closer look at Hong Kong’s start-up incubation ecosystem.
Entrepreneurship Competition Showcases Top-Tier Talent as Business Plans Reveal Remarkable Potential
On 7 August, mixed-region teams took the stage for the final pitch session, delivering compelling pitches and presenting business plans they had refined over the previous days to a panel of judges drawn from government, business and academia. The atmosphere was lively, showcasing the entrepreneurial potential of the participating youth.
Mr Ho Kai-ming, JP, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, served as officiating guest at the evening awards ceremony. In his remarks, he commended the programme for building a meaningful platform for cross-regional youth exchange and encouraged students to apply innovative and technological thinking to real-world social practice. Mr Leung Kam-tong and Mr Ng Yu-keung, Director of the Education and Information Department of KCC, also addressed the audience, applauding the 60 participants for the creativity and cross-cultural collaborative spirit they demonstrated throughout the five-day programme. Professor Scarlet Tso and Professor Ronald Chiu Ying-chun, Associate Dean of the School of Communication at HSUHK, also attended the ceremony.
Mr Ho Kai-ming, JP, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, delivers remarks at the awards ceremony, encouraging young people to turn innovative ideas into concrete action.
The ceremony featured the presentation of Champion, First Runner-up and Second Runner-up awards, together with special awards including Outstanding Leader, Excellence in Thinking, Rising Star, Most Popular and Best Team Spirit, recognising outstanding teams and individuals.
Following the ceremony, guests and participants joined a banquet, where the 60 young talents presented a lively programme of singing, dance and music. Amid laughter and heartfelt exchange, the evening brought this year’s programme to a warm and memorable close.
Mr Ho Kai-ming, JP, Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, and Mr Leung Kam-tong, President of KCC, pose with the champion team.
Summary of Activities: “Kowloon General Chamber of Commerce 24th New Era Executive Management Elite Training Program and Entrepreneurship Competition 2026
