Hong Kong fosters youth exchanges with Hungary (with photos)

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     The Hong Kong Young Leaders Development Association (HKYLDA), with the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin (HKETO Berlin), visited Budapest in Hungary from October 5 to 9 (Budapest time) to enhance the understanding of Hungary among young people from Hong Kong, and to foster greater friendship between Hong Kong and Hungary through people-to-people exchanges.

     The delegation was headed by the Founding President of the HKYLDA, Mr Alex Fan, and joined by some 20 outstanding students and young leaders from Hong Kong aged 18 to 29. The visit was supported by the Funding Scheme for Exchange in Belt and Road Countries of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government.

     During the visit, the delegation met with the Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Hungary, Mr Duan Jielong, and the Mayor's Office of Budapest to learn more about recent developments in Budapest and Chinese-Hungarian relations with a particular focus on China’s Belt and Road Initiative and its sustainable impact on Hungary.

     To foster cultural exchange and strengthen bonds between young people of both regions, HKETO Berlin, together with the Pázmány East Asia Club Hungary and the HKYLDA, held "Belt and Road: Hong Kong and Hungary Hand in Hand Dialogue of the Next Generations" on October 6 (Budapest time). Mr Fan and the Deputy Director of HKETO Berlin, Ms Alison Lo, took the opportunity to introduce the Hong Kong Working Holiday Scheme and youth exchange opportunities between Hong Kong and Hungary.

     In her speech, Ms Lo underlined that Hungary's Opening to the East policy and China's Belt and Road Initiative resonate with each other. "The key roles to play by Hong Kong and Budapest are not only in terms of infrastructural connection or trade and investment collaboration, but also profoundly in enriching cultural exchange between the people."

     The HKSAR Government has established a bilateral Working Holiday Scheme with the Government of Hungary to facilitate cultural exchange, enhance bilateral co-operation and promote tourism and development. The Scheme will come into effect in 2018 and provide an opportunity for young people from Hungary to gain first-hand experience living and working in Hong Kong while young Hong Kong people may travel to Hungary to experience life and work there. Under the scheme, each year, 200 participants aged between 18 and 30 from Hungary and a further 200 from Hong Kong can stay up to 12 months in the other place and will be allowed to take up short-term employment as well as enrol in study or training courses as an incidental part of their stay so as to acquire a better understanding and experience of cultural and social developments.

     After the visit to Hungary, the HKYLDA delegation proceeded to Warsaw in Poland to continue its exchanges with local youths with the support of the HKSAR Government.

About HKETO Berlin

     HKETO Berlin is the official HKSAR Government representative in commercial relations and other economic and trade matters in Hungary as well as Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia and Switzerland.

Ends/Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Issued at HKT 18:00

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The Hong Kong Young Leaders Development Association, with the support of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Berlin, visited Budapest in Hungary from October 5 to 9 (Budapest time) to enhance the understanding of Hungary among young people from Hong Kong and foster exchanges between the two places. Photo shows Hong Kong and Hungarian young people exploring the history and culture of Hungary together.