The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Lau Kong-wah, today (July 25) started his visit to Beijing. He attended the "10,000 Miles Friendship Trek" summer exchange programme jointly organised by 14 uniformed youth groups and met with young Hong Kong people participating in internships in Beijing.

     In the morning Mr Lau, together with 800 Hong Kong youths from 14 uniformed groups, attended the flag-raising ceremony in Tiananmen Square, Beijing. Later, representatives of the participating uniformed youth groups were received by the Vice-President, Mr Li Yuanchao, at the Great Hall of the People in the presence of Mr Lau.

     Mr Lau said, "Attending the flag-raising ceremony in Beijing can help young Hong Kong people deepen their feelings towards our country."

     This afternoon, Mr Lau met with young Hong Kong people who are taking part in internships in Beijing to learn more about their working environment, and encouraged them to be proactive in capturing such precious opportunities. Mr Lau said that the summer internship programmes organised by various organisations not only provide a valuable working experience for young Hong Kong people to better understand the employment environment and the room for development in the Mainland, but also enable them to broaden their horizons and experience the history and culture of the country.

     Over 300 Hong Kong youngsters from the eight universities are participating in six-week internships in various Mainland cities through programmes co-organised by the Hong Kong United Youth Association and other organisations. The scope of business of the internship institutions straddles finance, law, insurance, trade, construction, tourism, social services, information technology, culture and media.

     Mr Lau thanked the relevant government departments and institutions for their meticulous planning in providing young Hong Kong people with internship opportunities in the Mainland. He said the Home Affairs Bureau will continue to work closely with the Commission on Youth to implement the Funding Scheme for Youth Internship in the Mainland, enabling Hong Kong youngsters to gain hands-on experience of the working environment there as well as strengthening their understanding of the Mainland job market.

     Mr Lau will visit other young Hong Kong people who have joined internship programmes in Beijing tomorrow (July 26). He will then return to Hong Kong in the afternoon.

Ends/Monday, July 25, 2016
Issued at HKT 16:55

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