Chief Executive Carrie Lam today chaired the 10th meeting of the Youth Development Commission (YDC) to review its achievements.

Expressing gratitude to the members for collaborating with the current-term Government to formulate and launch policy initiatives to facilitate young people’s diversified development, Mrs Lam said: “In my first Policy Address since assuming office in 2017, I announced the establishment of the YDC to enhance policy co-ordination within the Government so as to enable holistic and more effective examination of, and discussion on, issues of concern to young people.

“I am pleased to note that members have affirmed and commended the YDC’s work over the past few years.”

At the meeting, members were briefed by relevant policy bureaus about the work progress in promoting youth development. They were pleased to note that the Government has proactively sought stakeholders’ views through the YDC platform and endeavoured to foster cross-bureau and interdepartmental collaboration to promote youth development, including facilitating the selection of suitable study pathways, aiding career development and upward mobility, strengthening communication, and nurturing positive thinking.

Members also noted the progress of the youth development initiatives undertaken by the YDC. Apart from enhancing the Funding Scheme for Youth Exchange in the Mainland and the Funding Scheme for Youth Internship in the Mainland, the commission will resume exchange and internship activities, subject to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.

In addition, the commission will introduce more enhancement measures in the new round of the Funding Scheme for Youth Life Planning Activities to promote cross-sectoral collaboration.

A new funding scheme will also be launched to subsidise non-government organisations to organise projects that are conducive to nurturing young people’s positive thinking, with a view to promoting the physical and mental well-being of youngsters.

Meanwhile, about 480 posts are held by young people who have been appointed to advisory and statutory bodies directly or indirectly through the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth. The ratio of youth members in these bodies increased from 7.8% in end-2017 to 15.4% in end-2021, successfully achieving the target of 15% set by the Government.

Members fully supported the continued implementation of the scheme and suggested expanding it to cover more committees, with a view to providing more opportunities for young people to participate in public affairs.

Mrs Lam added: “Since the promulgation and implementation of the National Security Law, Hong Kong has restored order from chaos and got back on the right track. It is time to rethink how to unite society, in particular through refocusing on and repositioning youth policies and district affairs.

“In this regard, in the proposal for the reorganisation of the Government structure which I put forward earlier this year, it was mentioned that the Home Affairs Bureau should be reorganised into the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau to review and formulate in a more holistic manner an overall youth policy and a blueprint for youth development. The proposal has received broad support from society.

“I wish that the proposal for establishing the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau will be implemented smoothly on July 1. I am confident that members of the YDC will continue to collaborate with the Government and nurture the new generation of talent for Hong Kong.”