The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, chaired the third meeting of the Youth Development Commission (YDC) today (October 29). At the meeting, members took note of the various new initiatives to support youth development promulgated in the "The Chief Executive's 2018 Policy Address", as well as the Government's strategy to step up youth life planning work.
      
     Members noted the various new initiatives to support youth development promulgated in the "The Chief Executive's 2018 Policy Address". They agreed with the Government's overall vision and direction in promoting youth development and, through a multi-pronged approach, understanding young people's thoughts, creating more space for them to unleash their potential and facilitating their upward mobility.
      
     On youth innovation and entrepreneurship, the YDC agreed that the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area could enable Hong Kong's young people to grasp more opportunities. The YDC suggested that the Government should thoroughly consider the needs of youth entrepreneurs while reviewing the Youth Development Fund (YDF) to provide entrepreneurial support that better meets their needs. The Task Force on Youth Development Fund and Programme will conduct a review of the YDF, including consulting youth entrepreneurs and relevant stakeholders to better understand their views on the operation of the YDF.
      
     The YDC agreed to promote cross-bureau and cross-sectoral collaboration to strengthen youth life-planning work by deepening life-planning work at schools, fostering collaboration between non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and schools, and encouraging the participation of the business sector. In particular, the YDC endorsed the allocation of additional resources to enhance the Funding Scheme on Youth Life Planning Activities starting from 2019-20, thereby strengthening synergy between NGOs and schools. The Task Force on Youth Development Fund and Programmes will follow up on the relevant work and consider factors such as strengthening promotion to schools and reviewing the funding limit and period of funded projects.
      
     The meeting noted the enhancement measures to be implemented during the new cycle of three funding schemes, namely the Funding Scheme for Youth Internship in the Mainland, the Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland and the Funding Scheme for International Youth Exchange. Measures include: under the new cycle of the Funding Scheme for Youth Internship in the Mainland and Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland, NGOs with satisfactory track record and meeting specified criteria may apply for three-year funding through a single application; the maximum fundable duration of internship projects will be extended; a new funding item for accompanying staff in an exchange project will be introduced; the matching grant mandatory requirement under the Funding Scheme for International Youth Exchange will be removed; and the age requirements for participants under the various schemes will be rationalised. 
      
     The Funding Scheme for Youth Internship in the Mainland 2019-20 is now inviting applications. The application deadline is November 19, 2018. For details, please visit www.ydc.gov.hk.
      
     The YDC Youth Ambassadors Scheme 2019 has launched recruitment and is now inviting relevant NGOs, post-secondary education institutions, etc, to nominate qualified young people to join the scheme. The nomination deadline is November 16, 2018. Through the scheme, the YDC hopes to identify and nurture, in a systematic manner, more young talents who are committed to and passionate about serving the community.
      
     The YDC will soon launch youth engagement activities to strengthen communications with young people. The first school exchange session will be held in early November. Members will interact with students to learn about their views on the work of the YDC and other youth development issues of their concern.

Ends/Monday, October 29, 2018
Issued at HKT 19:18

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