Policy Address

Life Planning

156.     Over 170 organisations have participated in the Business-School Partnership Programme, which enhances students’ understanding of different trades and prepares them for future employment through activities such as workplace orientation and visits, mentorship and career experience programmes.  In the three years from the 2015/16 school year, the EDB will enhance, reinforce and review the programme.

Exchange and Co-operation

157.     Our country is developing rapidly.  We plan to provide a subsidy for students to join at least one Mainland exchange programme each in the primary and secondary stages.  We will also launch a pilot scheme to provide financial and professional support for local public sector schools and Direct Subsidy Scheme schools in a bid to progressively double the number of primary and secondary sister schools in Hong Kong and the Mainland to about 600 pairs within the three years from the 2015/16 school year.  This will help further promote experience sharing between sister schools, enhance teaching and learning effectiveness, and relieve teachers from some of the administrative work.  At the same time, we will explore with Mainland provinces and cities to expand and enhance such exchange and co-operation.  Young people can broaden their horizons through two-way visits, life experience activities, cultural and service collaboration as well as job-seeking experience sharing.

158.     The Government will continue to fine-tune the existing exchange and internship programmes for young people and increase funding for these programmes.  We will work in collaboration with the United Nations Volunteers and local voluntary agencies to allow undergraduates to participate in the volunteer services of the United Nations agencies in Southeast Asia.  We will also regularise the services of the Service Corps and strengthen co-operation with Guangdong Province on volunteerism, so that our young people will have more opportunities to help the disadvantaged outside Hong Kong.

Youth Hostels

159.     The four youth hostel projects are being progressively implemented.  The Government will seek funding approval as soon as possible to take forward the two projects at Sheung Wan and Tai Po, while advance preparation works are being carried out for two projects at Mong Kok and Jordan.  At the same time, we will actively assist other interested non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with the early launch of more new projects.

Youth Development Fund

160.     The Government will set up a $300 million Youth Development Fund to support innovative youth development activities which are not covered by existing schemes, including subsidy in the form of matching funds for NGOs to assist young people in starting their own business.  Details such as eligibility criteria, approval procedures and allocation priority of the fund will be devised after consulting the Commission on Youth.

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