********************************************************
The following is issued on behalf of the Commission on Youth:
The Commission on Youth (COY) today (April 11) held an exchange session with youths at the Civic Square, 7/F, Youth Square. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, attended the session and exchanged views with the youths on youth employment.
Mr Cheung said, "The Government is fully committed to promoting youth employment. Apart from subsidising training institutions to provide training programmes meeting youngsters' needs, the Labour Department also offers a range of youth training and employment support services. Together we offer a series of career advisory, vocational training and employment support services to young school leavers."
He pointed out that 35 000 vocational training and continuing education places, on top of 75 000 tertiary education places, would be made available to cater for the needs of the "double cohort" of secondary school leavers this year.
"With Hong Kong's continuous transition towards a knowledge-based and high-value-added service economy, a faster growth in the demand for highly skilled and highly educated professionals/associate professionals as well as service workers and shop sales workers could be expected in the coming years.
"This apart, the change in Hong Kong's social landscape and a fast-ageing population would also fuel the growing demand for personal and community care and rehabilitation services for the elderly,' he added.
Mr Cheung encouraged the youngsters to make good use of the wide-ranging educational and training opportunities available in accordance with their own interests, abilities and career aspirations. By doing so, they would be well equipped to grasp the employment opportunities in the job market, he added.
The Chairman of the COY, Mr Bunny Chan, said that the COY would continue to organise exchange sessions and invite government representatives to attend so that youths will have more opportunities to exchange views with them on topics of concern.
Ends/Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Issued at HKT 20:01
NNNN
