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Young people are invited to take part in the Portal Design Competition for Public Youth Services organised by the Efficiency Unit (EU) of the Chief Secretary for Administration's Office. It will accept entries from April 3 until May 2.
The winners will be awarded prizes ranging from sponsored trips to international information technology institutes and training centres in Silicon Valley in the United States and in Beijing, to notebook or pocket personal computers.
The Government would draw on the winning entries to develop a portal offering convenient access to a range of youth-related public services. They covered education, career and employment, health, leisure, public facilities, sports, financial assistance, social work, civic education and youth development, an EU spokesman said.
The competition is open to HKSAR residents aged 15 to 24. There are open and secondary school sections. The contestants should join as teams with no more than four members each.
With the aim of raising the understanding of youth-related services provided by the Government and government-funded organisations, the contest has been organised to tap the creativity of the community throughout the process.
"The EU has developed a people-based services programme in support of the Chief Executive's 'people-based governance' policy. The programme aims to enhance the quality of access to Hong Kong's public services as well as improving the public's experiences in interacting with the Government," the spokesman said. The development of a one-stop youth portal will form part of this programme.
To encourage wider participation in the event, an online system will be set up for the public to vote for their favorite entries. Results of the competition will be announced in June.
There will be awards for champion, first runner-up, second runner-up and a meritorious award in each of the entry categories. The prizes are sponsored by Ciscos, Microsoft, PCCW and Hewlett Packard. Details of the competition can be accessed on the website www.youthportaldesign.gov.hk.
Ends/Saturday, March 11, 2006
Issued at HKT 12:06
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