Mainland exchange tours under Strive and Rise Program see sevenfold increase

The number of mainland study and exchange tours under the Strive and Rise Program rose from five in the first cohort to 35 in the third cohort, according to Chief Secretary for Administration Chan Kwok-ki. 

Chan made the remarks on Sunday (Dec 28) at the third graduation ceremony of the program, which saw nearly 4,000 students complete their one-year intensive foundation program.

He noted that the number of enterprises and groups supporting the program increased from over 100 in the first cohort to more than 400 in the third cohort. 

Participants have visited a wide range of destinations, including Harbin, Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Ningxia, Sichuan, Xi’an, Wuhan, Hainan, and the Greater Bay Area.

In addition, the number of star mentors saw a significant rise, from just over 10 in the first cohort to 50 in the third. About 400 mentors have taken part across all three cohorts, with some continuing their support into the fourth.

Chan encouraged graduates to actively participate in Alumni Club activities to expand their social networks and sustain the program’s impact. He also cited participating companies that expressed willingness to give hiring priority to alumni in the future.

A Form Five student said he used the HK$10,000 subsidy provided by the program to learn Chinese drums, covering tuition fees and purchasing instruments. 

Given the high cost of learning music in Hong Kong, he hopes the government will increase funding, which would allow him to take instrument exams.

Another Form FIve student, Teresa, shared that her most memorable experience was joining the Harbin exchange tour, where she viewed ice sculptures and explored northern culture. 

Having joined the programme only last year, she advises younger students to participate early in junior secondary school, as her own increased academic workload limited her involvement to just one program.