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The Secretary for Home Affairs, Mr Tsang Tak-sing, today (July 24) attended the flag-raising ceremony of "Meet Under the Flag 2013" in Beijing and met the young people from Hong Kong participating in an internship programme there.
Mr Tsang attended the flag-raising ceremony of "Meet Under the Flag 2013" at Tiananmen Square this morning, together with over 200 youths from Hong Kong, aged between 12 and 24. The ceremony was jointly organised by 13 youth uniformed groups in Hong Kong.
Mr Tsang then proceeded to China Central Television (CCTV) to meet with five young people from Hong Kong working as interns there. He also attended a discussion session to encourage more than 200 Hong Kong youths working as interns in Beijing. He told the young people, "The internship arrangement is a valuable opportunity to learn about the latest situation of the economic, cultural and social development of the motherland. I hope that you will grasp this opportunity to broaden your horizons and establish a wider social network."
The Chief Executive stated in his Policy Address earlier this year that more internship opportunities in the Mainland would be provided for young Hong Kong people. Through the Community Participation Scheme for Organising Study Tours to the Mainland, the Home Affairs Bureau has been subsidising youth organisations to help arrange for students and graduates from tertiary institutions to work as interns in the Mainland.
Over 200 young people from eight tertiary institutions, including the five interns working for CCTV, took up internship in the Mainland for six weeks through joining programmes organised by the Hong Kong United Youth Association and other organisations. Through working for different organisations, the participants will be able to learn about the working environment in the Mainland and prepare themselves for their future careers.
Mr Tsang extended his heartfelt thanks to the relevant organisations for their thoughtful planning, providing internship opportunities in the Mainland for the young people from Hong Kong.
Ends/Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Issued at HKT 13:18
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