Students on track for tech bond

Ryan Li

Some 500 youngsters left yesterday for Guangzhou and Foshan on a two-day trip to see mainland developments in innovation and technology to secure a stronger bond with the country.

The group, departing from the West Kowloon station, comprises students from over 30 secondary schools, universities and working youths.

"We expect students to broaden their knowledge in certain aspects through the tour," said Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen.

"Later, we will set up a 'youth network' and invite all participants in such exchange events to continue to take part in our events and keep up long-term contacts," she said.

Mak said there would be more exchange tours to the mainland during the summer holiday.

She said that organizations would have to come up with a specific theme to get subsidies for the tours and the government would monitor it.

The "youth high speed rail trip" was coorganized by the Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups and the Dragon Foundation as part of a series of visits launched in January 2019 and resumed after the pandemic.

HKFYG Lee Shau Kee College principal Lin Chun-pong expressed a wish for students to deepen their understanding of the mainland.

"It offers a precious opportunity for our students to learn about mainland development," he said. "It's also a good chance for them to consider the possibility of developing their own career in the mainland."

After arriving at Guangzhou South station, students were divided into six groups to visit sites such as Huacheng Square, Haixin Bridge and a water purification plant in Lijiao area.

The groups would then visit various innovative tech firms and industrial parks to see technologies, including 3D printing, construction robots, self-driving vehicles, creative sewage and solid waste treatment methods.

A student, To, said she was keen to know how the mainland has been combining economic development with technology.

"For example, mobile payments are more common in the mainland," she said. "I'm prepared to learn more about it up north."

Another student, Ng said, she was interested in the water purification plant during the visit.

"I believe it is closely related to social development and technology. Therefore I look forward to seeing how the plant functions," she said.