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Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mrs Anson Chan, at the opening ceremony of the Youth Seminar on Meeting the New Challenges of the New Era - "Dragon at the Great Wall" Project at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing today (Friday):

Mr Zhou, Members of the All-China Youth Federation and "Dragon at the Great Wall" Hong Kong Committee, guest speakers, ladies and gentlemen, young friends,

As part of our Spring Festival tradition, I wish you prosperity and good health in the Year of the Dragon.

On behalf of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, I am honoured to officiate at the Youth Seminar on Meeting the New Challenges of the New Era. The presence of thousands of Chinese youth from around the world to participate in this spectacular event is a moment of historical significance. It also marks the beginning of the new year with hope and vitality.

The successful launch of the "Dragon at the Great Wall" Project is the culmination of twelve months' dedication and hard work by the All-China Youth Federation and the Hong Kong Committee. And, I would like to thank Members of the Organising Committee for their efforts and the relevant Mainland authorities for their unfailing support. The value of the project goes beyond the friendship and understanding that will be cultivated among the participants. It promotes Chinese culture across boundaries and motivates our young people to prepare themselves for the challenges and responsibilities ahead, and to visualise the contributions they can make in the 21st century.

We are entering an information age with rapid growth in technological innovation. Our next generation must embrace these changes and then seize the opportunities that spring from them. Critical thinking and creativity are the engines of human progress. We must have an inquisitive mind and stand ready to explore. Independent thinking, good communication skills, proper application of knowledge, and an open mind to new ideas are crucial to keeping us in step with social progress. Young people living in different countries and cities are faced with different challenges. But there are certain principles which, I believe, apply equally to young people no matter where they live. And I would like to share some of them with you today. Young people should be a true friend to themselves and understand others, be active in their society and care about current issues, appreciate the history and culture of their own country, broaden their horizons by acquiring an international perspective and develop proper values and moral standards.

The main theme of this Seminar is "Visualising the Trends of Global Development and the Challenges of the 21st Century". It will look into the opportunities and challenges faced by Chinese people in the new millennium. It encourages active community participation, promotes the spirit of creativity and innovation among young people, and enhances global awareness of the importance to train up young Chinese leaders. Topics of interest to the international community, including "Culture and Arts", "Economic Development", "Environmental Protection", "Science and Technology" and "Human Development" will be discussed and examined in detail.

Over the years, Chinese people have won international acclaim for their outstanding achievements in various fields and disciplines. We should follow their examples to strive for improvements. On behalf of the Committee, I would like to extend our special thanks to our distinguished guest speakers of this seminar for acting as the role models for Chinese students, and more importantly, for taking time out of their very hectic schedules to be with us today. I am sure our young participants from all over the world will benefit greatly from their insightful remarks.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government attaches great importance to youth education and manpower training as human capital is our most valuable asset. Owing to our historical and geographical background, Hong Kong is a melting pot for cultures - a blending of the East and West - which attracts talent from all over the world. Coupled with our free and liberal traditions, we are an ideal home for young people to fulfil their aspirations or develop a career. Following our reunification with the Mainland, the Hong Kong SAR Government continues to adopt this policy. We welcome the inflow of skilled people from abroad, and recently introduced a scheme to bring in talent from the Mainland, particularly in the areas of technology, economics and higher education. I hope this intermingling of talent will be a catalyst for inspiring new ideas that will help to propel Hong Kong's economic and cultural development and reinforce our position as a flourishing knowledge-based society.

With the backing of Hong Kong's business, commercial and community organisations, donations and sponsorships in support of the "Dragon at the Great Wall" Project have amounted to well over HKD40 million. I want to commend all the donors for their generous support and remarkable commitment to our youth. The funds have made it possible for more than 2,000 young people from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, overseas countries and the Mainland to come to Beijing for this event. A "Dragon Foundation" has also been set up in Hong Kong with help from local community organisations and dedicated individuals, to provide long-term funding for programmes and activities designed for nurturing young Chinese leaders. Our Chief Executive, Mr Tung Chee Hwa, officiated at the establishment of the Foundation on the 12th of February. It aims to link up Chinese youth around the world, to encourage the spirit of innovation and participation, and to promote Chinese culture and global integration. I trust that the timeless spirit of the Foundation will provide long-lasting benefits to Chinese youth for many years to come.

I also believe those of you who are fortunate enough to be here today will cherish the opportunity to visit the national capital and benefit, in your own way, from the exchange activities and the seminar. I hope you will be able to take home fresh insights and experiences gained through sharing ideas with others. And may tomorrow's "Dragon Dance at the Great Wall" be a resounding success.

Finally, I want to thank all the participants and sponsors of the "Dragon at the Great Wall" Project again. This large-scale community event would not have been possible without your support.

Thank you.

End/Friday, February 18, 2000

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