Youth to be spurred into action

Stacy Shi

A youth development summit will be organized in mid-2024, with John Lee saying his administration will continue to enhance some 160 measures in a youth development blueprint.

Lee said the summit will also highlight the next Youth Festival.

And the administration will establish the Alliance of Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases in the Greater Bay Area within this year to provide a one-stop information, publicity and exchange platform.

That will be as it continues to implement youth exchange and internship programs in the mainland and overseas.

The administration will also continue the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum.

Members will have diverse learning opportunities, exchange activities with mainland universities as well as study tours to the Greater Bay Area and other places.

Kenneth Leung Yuk-wai, vice chairman of the Youth Development Commission, agreed the administration will further support youth innovation and entrepreneurship and broaden young people's horizons.

In addition, the Strive and Rise Program will cover secondary four pupils with the quota increased to 4,000 students starting in a second round at the end of this month.

The enhanced program will also enrich group activities with more mainland study and exchange tours, introduce mentorship groups and establish an alumni club for those who have completed the program to provide them with more opportunities.

Lee added that those who benefit from mentorship will increase to 6,800 in the 2023/24 school year. It will reach 12,000 in the 2025/26 school year.

Meanwhile, the administration will run a pilot scheme in Tsuen Wan and southern districts to identify carers requiring support and refer cases to the social welfare service units for follow-up action.

The service is expected to be extended to other districts.

The administration will also request 350 residential care homes or service units under different schemes to provide residential and day services.

There will be designated teams formed by the second quarter of next year to contact carers of special school leavers six months before graduation to provide them with interaction skills, to arrange post-school care plans and to link with community support services.

Separately, the administration will set up two additional support centers for ethnic minorities next year, one in central Kowloon and the other in New Territories East.

The Education Bureau will encourage non-Chinese-speaking students to learn the language for integration into society. That will involve designed Chinese-learning resources and after-school Chinese classes on a trial basis.

Government departments may also design job-oriented language tests according to the requirements of individual grades for ethnic minority applicants.

stacy.shi@singtaonewscorp.com