The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, chaired the first meeting of the Youth Development Commission (YDC) today (April 24). At the meeting, members were briefed on the findings and recommendations of the "Youth Development Strategy for Hong Kong: Public Engagement Report" published by the former Commission on Youth. Members also considered initially the challenges of youth development in Hong Kong and the future work priorities of the YDC.

     Members took note of the analysis done by relevant bureau directors or their representatives on the challenges of youth development in Hong Kong. They had an initial discussion on the possible topics that the YDC may consider in future, and offered recommendations in relation to the Government's youth development work. Mr Cheung, the Chairman, agreed that members' views would enable the YDC to have more in-depth and thorough considerations when formulating its work plan.

     "Non-official members of the YDC are highly representative, including community leaders as well as experts and stakeholders involved in youth development. More than half of them are young members aged 35 or below. During the meeting, they provided valuable opinions to the YDC on various aspects by drawing heavily on their professional knowledge and experience and sharing their experience from young people's perspective, enabling the commission to understand better the views of young people. Members agreed that the YDC should give effect to its co-ordinating role to enhance cross-bureau and cross-department collaboration. The Commission should also strive to address young people's concerns about education, career pursuit and home ownership and encourage their participation in politics, as well as public policy discussion and debate. They also agreed that priority should be given to issues that straddle different policy areas," Mr Cheung said.

      "The Commission discussed and agreed that the future work of the YDC should focus on three broad directions: to study how to assist young people in selecting suitable study pathways, for example through strengthening life planning work, to explore ways to facilitate young people's career development and promote their upward mobility, for example through grasping opportunities arising from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, and to examine how to strengthen communication channels with young people and encourage them to participate in public affairs more actively. The YDC will thoroughly study relevant issues and set priorities having regard to the directions mentioned above," he said. 

     The meeting also took note of the work to be undertaken by the three Task Forces set up under the YDC. In the light of the policy directions endorsed by the YDC, the Task Force on Youth Exchange and Internship will provide advice on non-local youth exchange and internship programmes, while the Task Force on Youth Development Fund and Programmes will oversee the Youth Development Fund and other youth development programmes and activities. The two Task Forces will also help implement relevant youth programmes. In respect of the Task Force on Youth Outreach and Engagement, it will keep in touch with young people through different channels and means to enable the Government and the YDC to gauge their pulse, understand their views and adopt their suggestions. The three Task Forces will convene their first meetings soon.

Ends/Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Issued at HKT 19:53

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