The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, joined by the Commissioner for Youth, Mr Wallace Lau, met with the delegation of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League of China today (May 29) to exchange views on enhancing youth development and exchanges between Shandong and Hong Kong.

     Miss Mak welcomed the delegation led by the Secretary of the Shandong Provincial Committee of the Communist Youth League of China, Mr Yin Shiyi. She said that Hong Kong and Shandong have always maintained close ties and frequently co-operated in different fields such as business, culture, youth and innovation and technology. The Youth Development Blueprint, which was recently promulgated by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), outlined the overall vision and guiding principles for the Government's long-term youth development work in the future. Among other things, it proposes promoting young people's understanding of the country and encouraging young people to integrate into the overall development of the country.

     With the resumption of normal travel between Hong Kong and the Mainland, and the rest of the world, the HYAB is resuming youth internship and exchange activities in a gradual and orderly manner, including Thematic Youth Internship Programmes to the Mainland and the Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland. These programmes offer young people exchange and internship opportunities in different Mainland provinces and cities including Shandong.

     Miss Mak looks forward to exploring proposals to jointly promote youth development and exchanges with Shandong so as to provide more opportunities for Hong Kong young people to enhance their awareness and understanding of the country.

Ends/Monday, May 29, 2023
Issued at HKT 18:45

NNNN