​Following is the speech by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, at the Youth Development Summit today (September 27):

President Xu (President of All-China Youth Federation, Mr Xu Xiao), Minister Yeoh (the Minister of Youth and Sports, Malaysia, Ms Hannah Yeoh), Deputy Minister AlMajed (the Deputy Minister of Society Development at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Ahmed Saleh AlMajed), Deputy Minister Keophilavong (the Deputy Secretary General of the Central Committee, Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union, Mr Souliya Keophilavong), Vice Minister Kochetov (the Vice Minister of Culture and Information, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Yevgeniy Kochetov), Deputy Director-General Qu (the Deputy Director-General, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Dr Qu Xing), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

     Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the second edition of the Youth Development Summit, a vibrant gathering that celebrates the boundless potential of our youth under the inspiring theme of "Connecting the World into the Future". This theme captures our collective vision of empowering young people to forge connections across cultures and pave the way for a brighter, more interconnected tomorrow together. Last year, we launched this Summit with tremendous energy, with a view to sparking meaningful dialogues and a shared commitment to youth development as the cornerstone of the future of our city, our country and the world. This year, we take the next step together, building on that momentum to foster even deeper connections and opportunities for the next generation.

     In this year's Government Work Report at the 14th National People's Congress, Premier Li Qiang called on Hong Kong to deepen international exchanges and co-operation. We embrace that call with concrete actions and plans. For our young people, it means opening doors to new horizons, where they can learn from the world and share Hong Kong's unique story with pride. For our city, it is a chance to cement our role as "super connector", bridging talent, ideas and aspirations across cultures and continents.

     This very Summit is the embodiment of that spirit of connection and collaboration. We are joined today by distinguished officials, visionary leaders and innovators of different fields from around the globe, alongside youth delegates from diverse backgrounds. Together, you are the proof that when young minds come together, they ignite creativity, foster understanding, and drive innovation that transcends boundaries.

     Central to our mission is the Youth Development Blueprint, which was released by my bureau in December 2022. Since its release, we have been taking forward youth development work alongside other policy bureaux, implementing at full steam some 160 measures set out in the Blueprint. Additionally, policy bureaux have introduced around 90 new measures to ensure that the Blueprint progresses with the times and is dynamic and responsive to the changing needs of our youth.

     Across the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, bureaux and departments have various measures and initiatives in place to echo Premier Li's call, and I am proud to highlight some of our key initiatives today.

     One of our core focuses is opening up the world to our youth through exchange and internship opportunities. In addition to establishing a foothold in Hong Kong, we encourage young people to explore the rich history, culture and opportunities of our country and beyond. Our multi-pronged approach ensures that young people from all walks of life can access these experiences at different stages of their development.

     We offer diverse internship opportunities in the Chinese Mainland and overseas, helping young people gain hands-on insights into workplace cultures, set career goals and build networks. Last year, around 5 000 young people took part in these programmes, ranging from working as interns inside world-class UNESCO heritage sites of the Palace Museum and Dunhuang Academy, to making meaningful contributions to international affairs through volunteer internships in the overseas field units of various United Nations agencies.

     Beyond internships, we also have in place a wide spectrum of exchange programmes, deepening young people's understanding of our country and the world, as well as fostering meaningful exchanges between them and young people around the world. Last year, more than 30 000 youth explored various provinces and cities in the Chinese Mainland, as well as 42 countries and regions across five continents. To ensure that grassroots youth would not be denied the opportunity to discover new horizons, we have especially launched a pilot scheme last year to provide additional subsidies for the underprivileged to participate in these exchange activities.

     Looking ahead, as newly announced by our Chief Executive Mr John Lee in the 2025 Policy Address last week, we will launch a Young Talent Training Programme to expand opportunities for internships with international organisations and participation in global conferences. We will also introduce a new media thematic internship programme in the Chinese Mainland, which will further equip our youth to tell compelling stories on the global stage.

     In addition to going global, we welcome with open arms young people from the Chinese Mainland and all over the world to visit Hong Kong. Last year, some 2 800 youth participated in our inbound exchange projects. This year, we have rolled out a number of enhancement measures to further encourage two-way exchange projects, fostering dialogues and friendships between Hong Kong youth and their peers across the Chinese Mainland and globally.

     The Youth Development Summit itself is a flagship event for promoting international youth exchange. For today's Summit, I am excited to share that we have gathered about 600 youth delegates from the Chinese Mainland and 33 countries. Aside from the Summit, we are also organising thematic visit programmes for them to explore Hong Kong together with local youth, which will enable them to learn more about Hong Kong's latest development in technological innovation, culture and arts, etc and promote cross-territory youth exchange.

     Closer to home, we are creating vibrant spaces to spark creativity and connection. Last year, we unveiled plans to transform the Kai Tak Community Isolation Facility into the "Youth Post" hostel, a dynamic place in a beautiful setting near the Victoria Harbour, fostering cultural, arts and sports exchanges. Since its trial launch in July this year, the Youth Post has hosted exciting activities such as skateboarding performances, busking sessions, and concert after-parties tied to Kai Tak Sports Park. Some of the youth delegates joining us at this Summit are actually staying on-site, experiencing its vibrant atmosphere firsthand. With feedback from our youth, we are gearing up for its official opening this year. Over the next five years, the Youth Post plans to host around 100 diverse activities, offering affordable accommodation for youth visitors from the Chinese Mainland and abroad while fostering exchanges that inspire creativity.

     Alongside promoting international youth exchange, youth engagement is also at the heart of our youth development efforts. Youth Link, a youth network we launched in September 2023, now connects over 18 000 members. It bridges participants from various government youth programmes, offering them the opportunities to develop talents and build trust with the Government. Members have participated in Youth Dialogue sessions with senior government officials and outbound exchange tours, volunteered at major government events, and even attended international events. For example, several Youth Link members represented Hong Kong, China, at the official youth development programme under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) framework held in Peru in November last year, engaging in meaningful exchanges with peers across the region.

     We are also expanding physical spaces for youth engagement. Youth Square, located in Chai Wan as a dedicated hub for youth development, provides a vibrant venue for young people to connect and learn through events and activities. By year-end, its first phase of renovations will unveil a new interactive space and video studio. Coupled with the "Good Stories of Hong Kong Youth" Programme, young people will create videos to share inspiring stories about Hong Kong, supported by training in production and filming. Similarly, in the dynamic district of Sham Shui Po, known for its rich cultural heritage and bustling creative energy, the renovations at the Nam Cheong District Community Centre and the adjacent Tung Chau Street Temporary Market will provide a lively hub for Youth Link members to connect and grow their networks. The first phase of the renovation works will be completed by the end of this year.

     While our bureau spearheads many youth development initiatives, we work hand in hand with all bureaux to advance this shared mission. For example, the Education Bureau plays a vital role in broadening global horizons for students. Since the 2016/17 academic year, the Belt and Road Scholarship has encouraged outstanding students from 49 Belt and Road countries to pursue publicly-funded undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Hong Kong. Over 680 students have been awarded the scholarship to date. We are thrilled to have over 70 of these awardees with us at the Summit this morning, bringing diverse insights to our discussions. The Scheme for Subsidy on Exchange for Post-secondary Students, introduced in 2015 and later expanded to Belt and Road regions in 2016 and 2019, aids students in participating in international exchanges, internships, service programmes, and competitions, with 35 institutions participated in 2024/25. Furthermore, life-wide learning strategies, supported by a flexible curriculum and grants such as the Life-wide Learning and Sister School Grant and the Student Activities Support Grant, enable students from all backgrounds to engage in STEAM competitions and study tours outside ordinary classroom settings, cultivating informed and responsible global citizens.

     Ladies and gentlemen, our young people are stepping into a world that is more interconnected yet more challenging than ever. Through these initiatives, we are equipping them not just to navigate this changing landscape but to shape it with confidence and purpose.

     We remain steadfast in our commitment to the Youth Development Blueprint, scaling up partnerships and opportunities to make international exchange a transformative experience for the next generation. With the unique positioning of Hong Kong, anchored in our country and open to the world, we are determined to be the "super connector" our youth need. I invite you all to join us in this mission. Together, we can unlock endless possibilities for our young people and, in doing so, for our shared global future. Thank you.

Ends/Saturday, September 27, 2025
Issued at HKT 13:02

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