Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The annual review of the Security Bureau (SB) Youth Uniformed Group Leaders Forum was held today (September 19). Members from Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macao reviewed their experiences and achievements over the course of the year, presented on various topics, and outlined the development of the Leaders Forum for the coming year with its new members.
Addressing the ceremony, the Deputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, said that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government attached great importance to youth development. The Chief Executive has announced the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and the Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address last Wednesday. It was stated clearly in Chapter 19 of the Hong Kong’s First Five-Year Plan that diversified platforms would be developed for exchange and practical experience to broaden the horizons of young people. Building on the Youth Development Blueprint, they are provided with broader platforms and more opportunities to grow and thrive, and strive to nurture a new generation of young people with an affection for our country and Hong Kong, global perspective, ambition and a positive mindset. In the Policy Address, a number of measures were proposed to help young people explore new areas, including the introduction of a new thematic finance internship programme in the Mainland; the launch of thematic aerospace training activities in the Mainland; and an increase of thematic internship places relating to high-end scientific research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Mr Cheuk said, “The Leaders Forum is an important platform for us to implement this grand vision. Over the past year, building on the strong foundation of close co-operation among Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Macao, the Leaders Forum has continued to innovate. During the year of 2025/2026, the Leaders Forum organised more than 30 activities covering national security, patriotic education, frontier technologies and multicultural themes. Our members also took part in national extravaganza such as the 15th National Games, demonstrating the vitality and sense of responsibility of the new generation. It is particularly encouraging that members have continued to go beyond the Greater Bay Area for a broader global stage this year. I encourage members to maintain your innovation and passion, engage in more exchanges and make contributions, develop your skills through serving the community and strive for the future.”
Members from the three places shared their observations and reflections from the activities of the Leaders Forum throughout the past year and their summer internship experiences. Students from Shenzhen University also shared their training experience in Hong Kong. They then delivered topical presentations on various issues related to the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, including higher education collaboration, a low-carbon living blueprint, cultural and tourism industry developments, international image building, and a youth entrepreneurship ecosystem. The members received feedback from the guests.
The Secretary for Security, Mr Tang Ping-keung, expressed his satisfaction at the marked progress shown by members over the past year. He said that 51 members undertook summer internships at 26 renowned enterprises and organisations across cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Shenzhen, Macao and Hong Kong. Nine students from Shenzhen University also came to Hong Kong for training at various companies to gain hands-on experience. Since the establishment of the Leaders Forum four years ago, he witnessed that more than 60 per cent of its graduates have joined the Government, taking up positions such as administrative officer and inspectorate officers of disciplinary forces; others have pursued careers in legal, medical care, engineering, finance and other sectors.
Mr Tang said the National 15th Five-Year Plan this year has a dedicated section for youth development, while the HKSAR Government also for the first time formulated its own Five-Year Plan, through which the city could actively dovetail with national strategies and better integrate into and serve the overall development of the country. He said that future development opportunities for young people are unlimited and encouraged members of the Leaders Forum to get prepared.
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. Later, the Leaders Forum expanded its network by including youth groups of public security forces of Macao, further promoting youth development and cultural exchanges among Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Macao.