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The Government had put in place a number of youth training and work experience programmes which achieved good results in helping young people find jobs, the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, said today (February 1) at the opening ceremony of the Education & Careers Expo.
Mr Ip called on young people to equip themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills to achieve their career goals, adding that the expo provided young people with the latest information on training, further studies and career opportunities. Such information would help young people make the right choice in the pursuit of their careers.
"Despite the steady improvement in the general employment scene, we must continue to equip our young people for the world of work," Mr Ip said. "Indeed, given the rapid development in technology, innovation and globalisation, young people should keep their eyes open and ears close to the ground. They must keep themselves abreast of the labour market situation.
"There are good employment opportunities in the financial, logistics and information technology services sectors. We will also see a further boost in job opportunities in the tourism, hotel, catering and retail trades.
"It is important for our young people to make realistic assessment of their own interests, talent, qualifications and expectations with a view to mapping out their career paths," he said.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said that young people, especially school leavers, invariably faced difficulties in finding jobs because of their lack of work experience.
"To enhance the employability of young people aged 15 to 24, the Labour Department launched the Youth Pre-employment Training Programme in 1999 and the Youth Work Experience and Training Scheme in 2002.
"The Labour Department will set up two Youth Employment Resource Centres later this year to provide one-stop advisory and support services on employment and self-employment to youths aged between 15 and 29. This underlines the Government's commitment to promoting the sustainable development of our youths," Mr Cheung said.
Jointly organised by the Labour Department and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the expo was opened by Mr Ip, Mr Cheung and the Executive Director of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Mr Fred Lam Tin-fuk.
With "Reaching Out for Brighter Prospects" as the theme, the expo has pulled together 498 exhibitors this year.
The careers exhibitors include government departments, private enterprises, professional associations and training bodies, while the education exhibitors provide information on study programmes offered by educational institutions in Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas countries.
The expo is open from today until Sunday (February 4) at Hall 5 Concourse of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wan Chai. Admission is free.
The opening hours of the Expo are as follows:
Date Time
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February 1 (Thursday) 10.30am to 7pm
February 2-3 10am to 7pm
(Friday and Saturday)
February 4 (Sunday) 10am to 6pm
Ends/Thursday, February 1, 2007
Issued at HKT 12:33
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