The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, and the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, officiated at the kick-off ceremony of the first cohort of the "She Inspires" Mentorship Programme launched by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau today (July 19).
      
     In his speech, Mr Chan noted that this year marks the 30th anniversary of the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women. The two milestone documents have laid the foundation for the advancement of women's causes globally. Hong Kong, as the international gateway for the country, has consistently taken concrete actions to promote women's development. The launch of the Programme represented a significant step forward in this endeavour.
      
     Mr Chan also encouraged the mentees of the Programme, "I hope that all of you will not only possess professional expertise, but also resilience and a heart that cares for our country and gives back to society. Today, you benefit from the selfless guidance of your mentors. I hope that when you become leaders in the future, you will also be beacons for the next generation, your juniors, passing on the power of women."
      
     Miss Mak expressed her gratitude to the mentors and mentees for their active participation, as well as to the local universities for their assistance and support.
      
     She said, "Looking forward, we hope this Programme will become a source of strength which encourages more women to realise their potential in the workplace. I look forward to seeing each mentee to face challenges bravely, discover their talents, and achieve excellence in their future careers under the guidance of mentors."
      
     Also officiating at the ceremony were the Chairperson of the Women's Commission (WoC), Dr Eliza Chan, and the Permanent Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Ms Shirley Lam. Members of the WoC, mentors and mentees participating in the Programme as well as representatives from local universities also attended the ceremony.
      
     The Programme matches local female university students who aspire to pursue a career in the professional or business sectors with women leader mentors, and provides relevant training and activities to help them enhance their skills, build confidence and network to thrive in their future career and nurture the future strength that "hold up half the sky". For the first cohort of the Programme, over 50 women leaders participated as mentors, and more than 250 applications from students were received, with more than 80 of them being selected as mentees.

Ends/Saturday, July 19, 2025
Issued at HKT 13:45

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