Youth From the Greater Bay Area Contributes to Regional Solutions for the Ethics of Neurotechnology to Advance Tech for Good
2026 Secondary School Model UNESCO International Conference on the Ethics of Neurotechnology – Hong Kong-GBA Regional Conference Concludes Successfully
Sponsored by Bank of China (Hong Kong) and jointly organized by the UNESCO Hong Kong Association (UHKA) and the Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development (HiESD), the 2026 Secondary School Model UNESCO (MUNESCO) International Conference on the Ethics of Neurotechnology – Hong Kong-GBA Regional Conference was held successfully on July 4, 2026. Following a competitive preliminary selection, 112 student delegates from across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) emerged from over 1,000 participants to represent 56 countries. They engaged in discussions and negotiation on the ethical challenges of neurotechnology—a topic of close concern and active promotion by UNESCO—and jointly drafted the “Youth Prospect on the Ethical Development and Application of Neurotechnology in the Greater Bay Area.”
In her remarks, Professor Karen Cheung, President of the UNESCO Hong Kong Association, emphasized the importance of this year’s theme. She noted that the conference responds to the adoption of the first global normative framework on the ethics of neurotechnology by the UNESCO General Conference at its 43rd session in November 2025. In December 2025, the UNESCO Hong Kong Association, in collaboration with the World Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO (WFUCA), co-hosted the 4th International UNESCO Model in Hong Kong, which brought together university students from 25 countries. Extending from that momentum to the July 2026 Secondary School Model UNESCO International Conference, student delegates representing different countries engaged in rigorous debate and negotiation during the conference to conduct in-depth discussions on the complex ethical challenges posed by neurotechnology, including privacy protection, equity, innovation, and vulnerable populations. The discussions highlighted the profound interconnections between neurotechnology ethics and sustainable development.
Mr. Bolat Akchulakov, president of the World Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO, and Dr. Choi Yuk-Lin, JP, Secretary for Education of the Education Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China offered video and text officiating remarks for the conference.
Building on the success of the 2024 International Conference, where student recommendations on “Artificial Intelligence and Education” were incorporated into the Hong Kong Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address, and the 2025 International Conference, whose recommendations on “Smart Sustainable Cities” received a formal response from the Honourable Mr. Victor Tai Sheung-shing, JP, Deputy Secretary for Housing of the HKSAR Government, this year’s conference continues to drive the translation of youth insights into concrete policy recommendations.
The conference is supported by the World Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO, the Education Bureau and the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the HKSAR Government, SDSN Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, and leading universities and educational institutions including the HKU Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, CUHK Faculty of Medicine, the Education University of Hong Kong and the City University of Hong Kong College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Supporting consulates include the Consulates General of Belarus, Egypt, France, Germany, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Poland in Hong Kong.
With the vision to empower and unite young people from around the world, 12 outstanding teams from the Hong Kong-GBA Regional Conference will advance to the International Conference scheduled for July 25, 2026. They will join global peers from Cambodia, Ethiopia, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, New Zealand, the Philippines, Poland, and other countries to further refine proposals for the ethical governance of neurotechnology.
List of Awardees:
Division A:
Best Delegation: The delegation of Argentina – Ashley Tang Ching Yu, Julia Tang Cheuk Yan (ELCHK Lutheran Academy, Malvern College)
Outstanding Delegation: The delegation of Denmark – Grace Chiu Kin Yan, Vanessa Ho Cheuk Yan (ELCHK Lutheran Academy)
Special Recognition: The delegation of Türkiye – Cheung Season, Ling Alicia Zu-yi (St. Stephen’s College)
Best Strategy: The delegation of Cuba – Wang Chun Yu Arius, Bo Yui Wa (St. Stephen’s College)
Best Delegate: Julia Tang Cheuk Yan (Malvern College)
Outstanding Delegate: Ashley Tang Ching Yu (ELCHK Lutheran Academy)
Best Speaker: Ling Alicia Zu-Yi (St. Stephen’s College)
Division B:
Best Delegation: The delegation of Spain – Akhtar Asjid Ullah, Limbu Deshika (Chinese Y.M.C.A. Secondary School)
Outstanding Delegation: The delegation of Slovakia – Makin Lee Hoi Fung, Jaimee Au Yeung Ho Yee (ELCHK Lutheran Academy)
Special Recognition: The delegation of United Arab Emirates – Yue Chengxiang, Wang Mingxi (Baiya Experimental School)
Best Strategy: The delegation of Colombia – Sun Yuwei (Good Hope School), Tsui Tia (St. Stephen’s College)
Best Delegate: Akhtar Asjid Ullah (Chinese Y.M.C.A. Secondary School)
Outstanding Delegate: Li Haozhe (Shenzhen Luohu Foreign Language School)
Best Speaker: Bareerah Hameed (Pooi To Middle School)
Division C:
Best Delegation: The delegation of Azerbaijan – Lee Ching Yui, Cheung Tsz Hang (Christian Alliance S. C. Chan Memorial College)
Outstanding Delegation: The delegation of Peru – O Ji Yan, Lam Yue Hei (G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College)
Special Recognition: The delegation of Hungary – Lau Chi Shing, Vinod-Thomas Rovil (Chinese Y.M.C.A. Secondary School)
Best Strategy: The delegation of Finland – Wang Yongqi, Xiong Zixuan (St. Stephen’s College)
Best Delegate: Lee Ching Yui (Christian Alliance S. C. Chan Memorial College)
Outstanding Delegate: Chan Pak Yin Matthew (St. Paul’s College)
Best Speaker: O Ji Yan (G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College)
Division D:
Best Delegation: The delegation of Benin – Lau Sum Yui Selina, Cheng Zachary Michael (St. Stephen’s College)
Outstanding Delegation: The delegation of Iceland – Chong Chi Nok Jireh, Ho Ka Wing Angelyn (Victoria Shanghai Academy)
Special Recognition: The delegation of China – Leung Sum Ying, Chan Chin Hin (Pope Paul VI College)
Best Strategy: The delegation of Luxembourg – Wong Sin Ping (Liu Po Shan Memorial College), Wong Sin Ying (Sear Rogers International School)
Best Delegate: Chong Chi Nok Jireh (Victoria Shanghai Academy)
Outstanding Delegate: Lau Sum Yui Selina (St. Stephen’s College)
Best Speaker: Ho Yui Chun (True Light Girls’ College)
Acknowledgements:
Title Sponsor: Bank of China (Hong Kong)
Organizers: UNESCO Hong Kong Association, Hong Kong Institute of Education for Sustainable Development
Lead Supporter: World Federation of Clubs and Associations for UNESCO
Supporting Organisations:
- Education Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
- SDSN Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Productivity Council
- The Education University of Hong Kong
- HKU Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
- CUHK Faculty of Medicine
- Hong Kong Baptist University Faculty of Science
- City University of Hong Kong College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- College of Professional and Continuing Education of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- Faculty of Education, The University of Hong Kong
- The Hong Kong Sprinkles Charity Foundation
- Hong Kong Federation of Education Workers
- The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education
- Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council
- The Association of English Medium Secondary Schools
- New Territories School Heads Association
- Kowloon Region School Heads Association
Supporting Consulates:
- Consulate General of Belarus in Hong Kong
- Consulate General of Egypt in Hong Kong
- Consulate General of France in Hong Kong
- Consulate General of Germany in Hong Kong
- Consulate General of Mexico in Hong Kong
- Consulate General of the Netherlands in Hong Kong
- Consulate General of Poland in Hong Kong
Participating Schools (selected for the Hong Kong-GBA Regional Conference, listed in alphabetical order):
- Affiliated School of JNU for Hong Kong and Macao Students
- Baiya Experimental School
- Chinese Y.M.C.A. Secondary School
- Christian Alliance S. C. Chan Memorial College
- ELCHK Lutheran Academy
- G.T. (Ellen Yeung) College
- Good Hope School
- Guangzhou Foreign Language School
- Immaculate Heart of Mary College
- Kwok Tak Seng Catholic Secondary School
- Liu Po Shan Memorial College
- Malvern College
- Nanwu High School
- POCA Wong Siu Ching Secondary School
- Pooi To Middle School
- Pope Paul VI College
- Pui Ching Middle School
- Sear Rogers International School
- Shenzhen Foreign Languages School
- Shenzhen Luohu Cuiyuan Dongxiao Middle School
- Shenzhen Luohu Cuiyuan Junior High School
- Shenzhen Luohu Foreign Language School
- Shenzhen Luohu Senior High School
- Shenzhen Luohu Xianhu Experimental School
- Shenzhen Middle School
- St. Paul’s College
- St. Stephen’s College
- St. Stephen’s Girls’ College
- Tak Oi Secondary School
- The Chinese Foundation Secondary School
- The Independent Schools Foundation Academy
- True Light Girls’ College
- United Christian College (Kowloon East)
- Victoria Shanghai Academy
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