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Hong Kong and Germany today (June 26) signed a Declaration of Intent (Declaration) to mark the establishment of a new bilateral working holiday scheme to benefit the young people of the two places.
The Declaration was signed by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, and German Consul General, Mr Frank Burbach.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr Cheung said young people would learn to be more independent and confident as they explored the very different yet interesting cultures and customs of other countries through the working holiday scheme.
"They will understand more about themselves, both their strengths and weaknesses, and enhance their global outlook as well as communication and social skills in dealing with people from diverse backgrounds," he said.
The scheme with Germany is the fourth bilateral working holiday scheme that Hong Kong has drawn up with other places. Young people participating in the scheme will be allowed to stay up to 12 months in each other's territory for holiday and to take up short-term employment or study during their stay.
Hong Kong established bilateral Working Holiday Schemes with New Zealand and Australia in 2001 and Ireland in 2005.
More than 6,200 Hong Kong youngsters have benefited from their stay in these countries while 1,200 young people from New Zealand, Australia, and Ireland have experienced Hong Kong's cosmopolitan and vibrant way of life.
Under the Hong Kong/Germany Scheme, the Hong Kong Immigration Department or the German Consulate General Office will issue a working holiday visa to a successful applicant from Germany or Hong Kong respectively who meets the following eligibility criteria:
* the applicant must be either a German national possessing a valid passport of Germany , or a HKSAR or British National (Overseas) passport holder ordinarily resident in Hong Kong, who is aged between 18 and 30 and intends primarily to holiday in Germany or Hong Kong for a specified period of not more than one year;
* the applicant must not be accompanied by dependent family members;
* the applicant must possess a return travel ticket or sufficient funds with which to purchase such a ticket, and sufficient funds for their maintenance during the period of initial stay in Germany or Hong Kong; and
* the applicant must hold comprehensive liability and medical insurance for the duration of stay.
Applicants who meet these requirements will be selected on a first-come-first-served basis until the annual quota of 100 for each side is filled. They will be granted a stay of 12 months, and can take up employment of not more than three months with any one single employer or engage in one training or study course of up to six months.
Applications for German Working Holiday visas can be submitted to the German Consulate General in Hong Kong. Applications for Hong Kong Working Holiday visas can be submitted to the Hong Kong Immigration Department direct or through the Chinese Embassy or any of the Chinese Consulates-General in Germany.
Further information and application forms for Hong Kong applicants can be accessed via the website (www.hongkong.diplo.de).The German Consulate General can be contacted through the email address info@hongkong.diplo.de or by phone at 2105 8788 or 2105 8745. German applicants may contact the Hong Kong Immigration Department by phone at 2824 6111 or download the necessary information from the department's website (www.immd.gov.hk).
Ends/Friday, June 26, 2009
Issued at HKT 15:46
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