The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) and Youth Development Commission (YDC) jointly launched the 2026-27 (first round) HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland today (November 17). Eligible non-governmental organisations (NGOs) are invited to submit applications.
      
     The Government attaches great importance to youth development. The HYAB promulgated the Youth Development Blueprint at end-2022; it states that the Government will further strengthen the breadth and depth of Mainland and international internship and exchange programmes with a view to enhancing young people's understanding of the country and supporting their integration into the country's overall development. Through the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland, the HYAB and the YDC provide funding for NGOs to organise youth exchange projects on the Mainland for Hong Kong young people to enhance their awareness and understanding of the country's development, foster exchanges with Mainland people and strengthen their sense of national identity. The Pilot Scheme on Subsidy to Grassroots Youth for Participating in Exchange Activities Outside Hong Kong that launched earlier will also continue to provide additional subsidies to grassroots youth with financial needs to participate in exchange projects under the 2026-27 funding scheme.
      
     The 2026-27 funding scheme accepts two rounds of applications. Details of the first round are available on the YDC website (www.ydc.gov.hk/en/programmes/ep/ep_fundingscheme.html). Interested NGOs should submit their applications via the e-application system on or before December 29. The second round of applications will be launched in mid-2026.

Ends/Monday, November 17, 2025
Issued at HKT 17:50

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