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Source: Hong Kong Information Services

As the Security Bureau Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum held its annual review today, youth members from Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macau reflected on their experiences and learning outcomes over the past year and gave presentations on various research topics.
 
Addressing the audience, Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan underscored that the leaders forum had organised nearly 30 diversified events in the last year, covering areas including patriotic education, national security, technology, culture and career exploration.
 
He noted that as this year marks the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the leaders forum also arranged for youth members to visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of safeguarding national sovereignty and security.
 
Furthermore, Mr Cheung said he was glad to see that the leaders forum strives to further deepen regional co-operation.
 
Apart from continuing to maintain close collaboration with Shenzhen University, he added that the leaders forum also partnered with the Academy of Public Security Forces of Macau for the first time, with a view to jointly promoting interaction and exchanges among young people in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macau.
 
Concluding the event, Secretary for Security Tang Ping-keung highlighted the significant achievements of the members of the leaders forum last year.
 
These included four members representing Hong Kong youth to attend the military parade in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing; a member, as the youth representative of Hong Kong, China, taking part in the Voices of the Future programme organised by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Peru in 2024; and seven members being awarded the stars of self-improvement of Chinese college students, an award presented to only 20 students in Hong Kong.
 
Mr Tang pointed out that 42 members did summer internships in renowned enterprises or organisations in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macau, and 10 students from Shenzhen University came to Hong Kong for training in different enterprises.
 
He explained that in order to strengthen the core objectives of co-operation in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), the bureau will assign five Administrative Officers, together with five teachers from Shenzhen University, to serve as mentors for the new cohort of members, guiding new members to complete thematic research projects related to GBA collaboration.
 

Mr Tang also stated that the alumni of the leaders forum are actively preparing for the establishment of an alumni association, in the hope of bringing the sense of social responsibility and collaborative spirit they have learnt to more social service activities, becoming a group that can contribute to Hong Kong and the country.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) today (September 27) hosted the second edition of the Youth Development Summit · Hong Kong. Under the theme “Connecting the World into the Future”, the Summit has gathered officials responsible for youth policies from various regions, alongside experts and leaders of different sectors as guest speakers. The Summit attracted over 3 000 young people registered to participate, including around 600 of them from the Chinese Mainland and 33 overseas countries such as the United States, Malaysia, Laos, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, which enabled them to exchange views and engage in mutual learning on issues of concern to young people.
 
     The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, officiated at the Summit. In his opening remarks, he said, “The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government attaches great importance to youth. Our Youth Development Blueprint, released in late 2022, outlines our guiding principles for advancing youth development, as well as charting a clear pathway for stakeholders everywhere. Our vision is to nurture a new generation of youth equipped with a global perspective, a positive thinking mindset, and an affection for our city and our country. Since the release of the Blueprint, more than 250 concrete actions and measures have been put forward to providing young people with wide-ranging opportunities and support.”
 
Mr Chan thanked all the speakers who shared their experiences and visionary ideas, inspiring the participants from around the world to think about how they can foster stronger connections across boundaries and cultures to help and learn from each other to build a better future together. He also encouraged young participants to make good use of the Summit as a platform to exchange ideas with young people from different regions to develop innovative solutions, and to turn bold ideas into tangible impact.
 
     At the morning’s keynote session on “Youth Creativity Energy”, key officials responsible for youth development policies from various regions were invited to share insights on the importance of connecting young people around the world in driving social development, as well as policies and initiatives in different regions that aim at nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and encouraging active youth engagement. Keynote speakers included the President of All-China Youth Federation, Mr Xu Xiao; the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak; the Minister of Youth and Sports, Malaysia, Ms Hannah Yeoh; the Deputy Minister of Society Development at the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mr Ahmed Saleh AlMajed; the Deputy Secretary General of the Central Committee, Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union, Mr Souliya Keophilavong; the Vice Minister of Culture and Information, the Republic of Kazakhstan, Mr Yevgeniy Kochetov; and the Deputy Director-General, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Dr Qu Xing.

     Miss Mak delivered a keynote speech at the Summit and shared the vision of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region Government in deepening international exchanges and co-operation, and highlighted key Government measures and initiatives on youth development which broaden local young people’s horizon and encourage them to share the good stories of Hong Kong youth.
 
Miss Mak said, the Government has been taking forward measures in the Youth Development Blueprint at full steam to provide more Chinese Mainland and overseas exchange opportunities for Hong Kong young people to strengthen their global perspective. She wished that young people would work together to unlock endless possibilities for a brighter future of Hong Kong, the country and the world.
 
     The afternoon featured three thematic sessions. The first session, chaired by the Vice-President of All-China Youth Federation and the Vice-Chairman of Youth Development Commission, Mr Kenneth Leung, was themed “Digital Reform · InnoTech of the Future”. The panelists, including the Director-General of Investment Promotion of Invest Hong Kong, Ms Alpha Lau; the Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Vidi Labs Ltd, Ms Lamia Sreya Rahman; the Director of the State Key Laboratory of Management and Control for Complex Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Wang Fei-Yue; and the Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation, Mr Terry Wong, explored how technological innovation can drive economic growth and sustainable development in the digital era, aiming to inspire young people to embrace innovation and harness technology.

     The Commissioner for Belt and Road, Mr Nicholas Ho, was the moderator of the next session titled “Cross Cultural Creativity”. Leaders from different sectors, including the Global Operations Director of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation, Mr Edwin Kibuthu Kimani; the Founder of Bakehouse, Mr Grégoire Michaud; and the Chairman of the Board of Ocean Park Corporation, Mr Paulo Pong, explored development trends in integrating traditional culture with the creative industry, aiming to inspire creative thinking among youth and create new opportunities for the younger generation.
 
     The final thematic session “Unleash Potential and Positivity” was hosted by the Under Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Mr Clarence Leung. He was joined by former Captain of China Women’s National Volleyball Team and Associate Professor of the School of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nanjing Normal University, Professor Hui Ruoqi; former F1 Racer and Director, Head of Private Office of Knight Frank Greater China, Mr Tung Ho-Pin; the Gold Medalist of 1 000m Speed Skating at Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 and the Head of the Olympic Studies Centre, Harbin Institute of Technology, Professor Zhang Hong. They delved into the importance of positive thinking and a proactive mindset, inspiring young people to cultivate a positive attitude towards life and fully realise their potential.
 
In addition to the above sessions, starting yesterday (September 26), the HYAB has arranged a three-day thematic visit programme and exchange activities to enhance the participants from the Chinese Mainland and overseas in understanding Hong Kong’s latest development in technological innovation, culture and arts, and to provide them with an opportunity to exchange and interact with the local youth. The YDC Youth Ambassadors and the Youth Link Committee members served as the ambassadors of the programme, alongside over 400 Summit participants in exploring Hong Kong. The activities will foster cross-regional interaction and collaboration among young people, showcase the charm and vibrancy of the city, and tell the world the good stories of Hong Kong Youth.

Prior to the opening of the Summit, Mr Chan hosted a welcome dinner yesterday for officials, guests and speakers from the Chinese Mainland and overseas who came to Hong Kong to participate in the event.

For the highlights of the Summit, please visit the thematic webpage, www.youthfest.hk/en/summit.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The annual review of the Security Bureau (SB) Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum was held at the Central Government Offices today (September 27). Youth members from Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macao reflected on their experiences and learning outcomes over the past year and gave presentations on various research topics. They also outlined the development of the Leaders Forum for the coming year, along with its new members.
 
Addressing the audience, the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, said the Leaders Forum has organised nearly 30 diversified events over the past year, covering areas including patriotic education, national security, technology, culture and career exploration. As this year marks the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the Leaders Forum also arranged for youth members to visit the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, enabling them to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of safeguarding national sovereignty and security. Noting that he is glad to see that the Leaders Forum strives to further deepen regional co-operation, he said that apart from continuing to maintain close collaboration with Shenzhen University, the Leaders Forum also partnered with the Academy of Public Security Forces of Macao for the first time, with a view to jointly promoting interaction and exchanges among young people in Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macao.
 
Youth members from the three places shared their observations and reflections from the activities of the Leaders Forum in the past year through interviews and short videos, including their experiences gained from the summer internships at various renowned enterprises and government agencies. Youth members gave presentations on various youth-related research topics, including public engagement, promotion of Chinese culture, cyber ethics and civic responsibilities, telling good stories of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and social responsibilities of youth. The members received feedback from the guests. Old and new members then participated in team-building activities to know each other through games, laying a solid foundation for collaborative learning in the coming year.
 
Concluding the event, the Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, highlighted the significant achievements of the members of the Leaders Forum last year. These included four members representing Hong Kong youth to attend the military parade in commemoration of the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing; a member, as the youth representative of Hong Kong, China, taking part in the Voices of the Future programme organised by the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation in Peru in 2024; and seven members being awarded the stars of self-improvement of Chinese college students, an award presented to only 20 students in Hong Kong. Mr Tang added that 42 members did summer internships in renowned enterprises or organisations in cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Hong Kong and Macao, and 10 students from Shenzhen University came to Hong Kong for training in different enterprises.
 
Mr Tang said that in order to strengthen the core objectives of co-operation in the GBA, the SB will assign five Administrative Officers, together with five teachers from Shenzhen University, to serve as mentors for the new cohort of members, guiding new members to complete thematic research projects related to GBA collaboration. He also said that the alumni of the Leaders Forum are actively preparing for the establishment of an alumni association, in the hope of bringing the sense of social responsibility and collaborative spirit they have learned to more social service activities, becoming a group that can contribute to Hong Kong and the country.
 
The SB established the Leaders Forum in October 2022 to deepen participation in youth work. In the following year, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed with Shenzhen University, and its students were invited to participate in the activities of the Leaders Forum. Last year, the Leaders Forum expanded its network by including youth members of the Academy of Public Security Forces of Macao, further promoting youth development and cultural exchanges among Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Macao.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law today (September 27) attended the Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul (HK Week@Seoul) events in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

In the morning, Miss Law officiated at the opening ceremony of the Hong Kong Comics and Culture Exhibition. Organised by the Hong Kong Comics and Animation Federation and sponsored by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA), the free exhibition showcases over 100 works from 19 Hong Kong comic artists of different generations and two popular Korean comic artists at Starfield Hanam from today to October 9. They include classics such as “Old Master Q” and “My Boy”, as well as exhibits from Hong Kong’s comic and film cross-over projects. Tracing the evolution of Hong Kong comics from their origins in the early 1960s to the works of today’s most influential creators, the exhibition highlights the emergence of a distinctive Hong Kong style. Special zones are also set up in the exhibition to feature Hong Kong’s humorous and martial arts comics that show the city’s characteristics.

In the afternoon, Miss Law attended the opening event of LOCAL POWER 2025 Hong Kong Fashion in Seoul presented by the Asian New Generation Creativity Design Association under CCIDA’s sponsorship. Held at the trendy hotspot Seongsu-dong, the event includes today’s fashion show with 70 outfits from 35 units of fashion designers from Hong Kong, other cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and Korea on a stage integrated with artificial intelligence technology, and performances by Hong Kong artist and K-pop music, offering audiences a multimedia fashion experience. The event is followed by a free exhibition from September 28 to October 11, featuring 35 fashion pieces by these designers, showcasing the creativity and style of the new generation of Asian designers.

The Permanent Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ms Vivian Sum, also attended the two opening events today. 

Miss Law concluded her visit to Seoul and departed for Hong Kong today.

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Housing Department today alerted the public to a fraudulent email purportedly issued by the department.
 
The department said that the email concerned showed the sender address heplan_no_reply@housingauthority.gov.hk, but it was not delivered by the department.
 
The department has recently been informed by a company that it had received an email displaying the sender address from a person who claimed to be a staff member of the department requesting for the financial information of the company. The email included suspicious hyperlinks and attachments.
 
The case has been reported to Police for further investigation.
 
Citizens are reminded to stay vigilant to suspicious emails and not to disclose any sensitive information, click any suspicious hyperlinks or download any attachments.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​Following is the speech by the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, at the opening ceremony of LOCAL POWER 2025 Hong Kong Fashion in Seoul today (September 27):

Dorian (Founding Chairman of the Asian New Generation Creativity Design Association, Mr Dorian Ho), fashion designers from both Hong Kong and Korea, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Annyeonghaseyo (Korean: Hello). Good afternoon. It is my tremendous pleasure to join you for LOCAL POWER 2025 Hong Kong Fashion in Seoul. Thank you for joining us today, gathering here to witness the magic of fashion design and its power to foster cultural exchange and friendship between Hong Kong and Korea. 

As the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, I have been eagerly anticipating today’s event. I actually had a preview earlier this month at Hong Kong’s own CENTRESTAGE fashion gala, and I was deeply impressed. Today’s full showcase promises to be even more captivating, featuring over 70 unique designs from 30 emerging designers and brands from Hong Kong and other cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area), alongside five of Korea’s top designers.

But LOCAL POWER 2025 is more than just a fashion show. It is an exciting, interactive experience, enhanced by artificial intelligence and brought to live with live Cantopop and K-pop performances. Through this hybrid showcase, you will get a true taste of Hong Kong’s vibrant and diverse creative industries. 

This event is a perfect example of our commitment, as outlined in our Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development, to strengthen the arts and creative ecosystem in Hong Kong. With Hong Kong’s unique role as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, we are proud to sponsor projects like this through our Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, CCIDA. Our goal is to present our new generation of Greater Bay Area fashion design talents to the world, enhance their international exposure and help build powerful local brands. 

As a key part of Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul, this groundbreaking collaboration provides a creative platform for elite designers from Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area and Korea. It elevates our cultural and creative partnership to the next level.  

Hong Kong Week 2025@Seoul was officially launched yesterday, bringing 14 selected programmes – about 65 performances and activities – to Korea, from dance and music to film, Chinese painting and comics. Your participation here today provides the momentum to further connect the creative talents of Hong Kong and Korea. 

Speaking of connection, I would like to extend an invitation to you all. This coming November to December, Hong Kong will be hosting the Hong Kong Fashion Fest. As our Chief Executive outlined in his Policy Address, our vision is to develop Hong Kong into Asia’s leading fashion design hub. The Hong Kong Fashion Fest is our annual spotlight event, a spectacular tapestry of design happenings across the city. This year, we are taking it a step further by collaborating with Paris and Milan Fashion Weeks to promote digital and sustainable fashion. I sincerely welcome all of you to join us in Hong Kong for this extravaganza. Please stay tuned for details.

Before I close, I must express my heartfelt appreciation to the Asian New Generation Creativity Design Association and Dorian himself, for organising this project. And my gratitude also goes to today’s performing artists, Mr Chu Wan-pin, and Shownu and Hyungwon of MONSTA X, as well as various supporting organisations. 

I wish LOCAL POWER 2025 Hong Kong Fashion in Seoul a roaring success, and all the participating designers a rewarding and inspiring journey fashion show and the exhibition that follows. 

Thank you. Kamsahamnida (Korean: Thank you).

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Fourth Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Statistical Forum was held yesterday (September 26) via live streaming. Under the guidance of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the forum was hosted by the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Statistics (GPBS) and jointly organised by the Guangzhou Municipal Bureau of Statistics and the People’s Government of Huangpu District of Guangzhou Municipality. The Commissioner for Census and Statistics, Mr Leo Yu, and some C&SD statistical professionals participated in this major annual event. 

This year’s forum, themed “Statistical Innovation and Technological Breakthroughs in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area”, aimed to foster statistical exchange and co-operation in the GBA. It provided a platform for statistical professionals from the “9+2” cities to brainstorm collectively and drive innovation in statistical methods and technologies through creative thinking, jointly addressing the current complex and ever-changing environment.　In addition to the participation of leaders from the NBS and the GPBS, the forum brought together statistical experts from various fields, including representatives from the government statistical agencies of the “9+2” cities in the GBA, as well as those from higher education institutions and research institutes from the Chinese Mainland. 

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the forum, Mr Yu pointed out that the C&SD has consistently adhered to the guiding principles of “upholding fundamental principles and breaking new ground; establishing the new before abolishing the old” on the path of advancing statistical reform and innovation. While upholding the spirit of professionalism in statistics, maintaining objectivity and neutrality, respecting privacy and ensuring data security, he encourages his colleagues to boldly break boundaries, actively embrace new techniques, strive for excellence, and continuously enhance the work cost-effectiveness and service quality.

Mr Yu also remarked that in today’s rapidly changing digital era, artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer merely a tool but a powerful force profoundly transforming our ways of working and thinking. In the field of statistics, the collection, processing, analysis and interpretation of massive data are often time-consuming and labour-intensive. AI can efficiently handle repetitive tasks, freeing up the team’s energy and time to focus on strategic assessment and innovative applications. Therefore, instead of replacing statistical professionals, AI will become an indispensable “new member” of the team, by effectively enhancing the team’s ability to process and analyse data.

Senior Statistician of the C&SD Mr Ronald Chan also delivered a presentation entitled “Strategies for application of data science in official statistics” at one of the sessions of the forum. The staff members of the C&SD who participated in the forum unanimously expressed that this forum enabled them to acquire insights into the ongoing advancement of statistical techniques on the Chinese Mainland, and reminded them to strive for innovation and actively pursue breakthroughs in the dynamic era of big data, so as to seize opportunities and tackle challenges in the future.

The forum, held online, was attended by representatives of statistical organisations from Beijing, Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao, etc. Relevant officials from the statistical systems of the cities in the GBA, as well as experts and scholars from national think tanks and renowned universities, also shared their valuable insights on topics such as applications of data science techniques, development of statistical talent, statistical reform and innovation, economic monitoring and forecasting, etc.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Hong Kong Observatory (HKO) and the National Time Service Center (NTSC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences signed the first co-operation agreement at the HKO Headquarters today (September 27) to enhance collaboration in time measurement, time-keeping and time services, as well as the exchange of related experiences and technologies.

     The agreement was signed by the Director of the HKO, Dr Chan Pak-wai, and the Director of the NTSC, Dr Zhang Shougang. The Secretary for Environment and Ecology of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Tse Chin-wan, witnessed the signing ceremony.

     At the signing ceremony, Dr Chan said, “The HKO was set up in 1883. The provision of an accurate time service, particularly for mariners, has been one of its primary responsibilities since its establishment. From astronomical observations using the transit instrument at the beginning to the introduction of pendulum clocks in the 1920s, quartz-controlled timing systems in the 1960s, and then the adoption of the caesium beam atomic clock commencing in 1980, the Observatory’s timing services have continuously developed with the times. Recognising that the NTSC is the official keeper of China’s Atomic Time Standard and the developer of spaceborne atomic clocks, the platform for space-ground integrated satellite navigation time service, and the high-precision ground-based time service system, now is an opportune time to strengthen close collaboration between the HKO and the NTSC from a national strategic perspective.”

     Dr Zhang said, “The NTSC is the only specialised and comprehensive research institute in China dedicated to both the foundational and applied research in time and frequency. We are responsible for generating, maintaining, and disseminating China’s National Standard Time (Beijing Time). In recent years, the deviation between the National Standard Time generated and maintained by the NTSC and the Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) has remained within two nanoseconds, achieving the highest accuracy internationally. Our contribution to the calculation of the International Atomic Time ranks second globally. The Center maintains a long-standing partnership with the HKO. This time, we will further deepen our co-operation with the Observatory. Through joint timekeeping, fibre-optic time service, data sharing, and other initiatives, we will work together to enhance the accuracy and reliability of time services in Hong Kong, jointly promote the development of integrated atomic time, and further enhance our country’s capability to maintain the time standard.”

     Before the signing ceremony, both sides conducted a high-level meeting to discuss the short-term and long-term plans for collaboration in time service enhancement and the target objectives. The Observatory will deploy reliable equipment and methods to acquire multiple time sources from NTSC to further enhance the reliability and resilience of local time service provision. In addition to the continual participation in the determination of UTC by providing atomic clock time data to the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in France, the Observatory also plans to participate in the Joint Atomic Time System of China to jointly promote the development of integrated atomic time.

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

​Following is the speech by the Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, at the Youth Development Summit today (September 27):

Distinguished guests and government officials from around the world, ladies and gentlemen, 

     Good morning, everyone! A heartfelt welcome to Hong Kong and this second edition of the Youth Development Summit.

     I spoke at last year’s inaugural edition of the Summit and was delighted with the great turnout – innovators and change-makers taking part from all over the world. 

     Well, this year’s Summit, I’m happy to say, is even bigger, counting more than 3 000 young leaders. You’re here from Hong Kong and the Chinese Mainland, from East and Central Asia, the Middle East and beyond. 

     And your presence here today is a testament to the growing eagerness of young people, worldwide, to come together and learn from one another, creating prospects for a more connected and prosperous global community. And this year’s theme, “Connecting the World into the Future,” reflects that encouraging reality. 

     Your participation highlights our shared commitment to promoting youth development – in Hong Kong, across the Belt and Road regions and around the world.

     The Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government attaches great importance to youth. Our Youth Development Blueprint, released in late 2022, outlines our guiding principles for advancing youth development, as well as charting a clear pathway for stakeholders everywhere. 

     Our vision is to nurture a new generation of youth equipped with a global perspective, a positive thinking mindset and an affection for our city and our country.

     Since the release of the Blueprint, more than 250 concrete actions and measures have been put forward, providing young people with wide-ranging opportunities and support.

     And just 10 days ago, the Chief Executive delivered his annual Policy Address. It includes a number of measures to promote youth development. Among them, a Young Talent Training Programme will expand opportunities for our youth to attend conferences and take part in the internships of international organisations.

     There will also be a new media thematic internship programme on the Mainland, a strengthened Youth Financial Education Programme, and new professional mediation workshops to help broaden young people’s international perspectives and cultivate a global mindset.

     Exchange programmes for youth will also be stepped up, encouraging young people from overseas and the mainland to visit Hong Kong on exchange. Our Youth Post hostel, open now on a trial basis, officially opens later this year, providing affordable accommodation for young people, as well as a wide range of youth-focused activities and events. The goal is to encourage exchanges between Hong Kong youth and young visitors from around the world.

     This Summit is among the Youth Development Blueprint’s initiatives. It brings together 20 prominent speakers, including young entrepreneurs, athletes, business professionals from I&T (Innovation and Technology) and the creative and service industries, and government and institutional leaders. I know their passion, experience and innovative insights will inspire us all.

     To you, our youth participants, this Summit is your Summit, yours to offer, and learn about, innovative solutions, create global connections and expand your horizons. 

     The future belongs to you, and by taking part in today’s Summit, you are one step closer to turning your ideas into tangible realities.

     Sports, and sportsmanship, is an integral element of youth – and this Summit. Sportsmanship encourages respect, fairness, integrity and teamwork.

     The 15th National Games will be held November 9 to 21, with Hong Kong hosting the Games together with Guangdong and Macao. Hong Kong will stage eight events: basketball, beach volleyball, fencing, golf, handball, rugby sevens, track cycling and triathlon.

     I invite you all to join us, in November, for this world-class sports competition, the many cultural events accompanying it and all the excitement of Hong Kong, Asia’s world city.

     I am grateful to this year’s Summit speakers, and to all of you, here in Hong Kong contribute your time, energy and ideas to create a better, more connected, world. Let us remember that lasting connectivity demands more than technology or infrastructure alone can offer. Empathy, understanding and a shared purpose, are no less essential.

     I am confident that, working together, we can empower a generation that is resilient, resourceful and ready to build a bright future for all.

     I wish all a rewarding Summit and an enjoyable stay in Hong Kong, the world’s East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange.

     Thank you very much.