Secretary for Home & Youth Affairs Alice Mak today met Sichuan Provincial People's Government Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Director Zhang Tao to exchange views on enhancing youth development and exchanges and on district governance work between Sichuan and Hong Kong.

Welcoming the delegation led by Ms Zhang, Miss Mak said that Hong Kong and Sichuan have a close relationship and much to learn from one another.

She noted that to enhance Hong Kong youth's understanding of the country, the Home & Youth Affairs Bureau has been actively taking forward various exchange and internship programmes, with some covering Sichuan such as the Youth Internship Programme at Wolong Region of Giant Panda National Park under the Thematic Youth Internship Programmes to the Mainland, which receive staunch support from the Sichuan authorities.

With regard to district governance, Miss Mak said that the bureau had arranged for district council (DC) members to go in batches to Zhejiang Province and Shanghai to learn about the country's principles on grassroot governance and undertake site visits to learn their experiences in undertaking grassroot governance work.

She said the move continuously enhances DC members' capabilities in discharging their duties; and that the work in this regard would continue in future.

Miss Mak added that she looks forward to deepening the co-operation on youth development and exploring mutual exchange on district governance work with Sichuan, and to contribute to the country's development needs.