The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will invest more resources to support young people’s growth in the new year, including providing more venues and organizing activities conducive to their career development, Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs Alice Mak Mei-kuen said on Tuesday.
Mak also pledged to promote positive family values in the community through a range of activities, aiming to foster a more harmonious society and improve district governance.
Mak made the remarks at a spring reception held by the bureau, which was also attended by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu.
At the toast ceremony, Lee said he wished for prosperity and richness for the nation and the city, as well as people’s happiness and propitiousness in the new year.
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Addressing the event, Mak vowed in the new year that the SAR government will expedite the construction of key projects for youth development, such as a youth hostel in Kai Tak, a physical youth exchange platform in Nam Cheong District Community Centre, and the redevelopment of Chai Wan’s Youth Square, among more tangible facilities being offered to the city’s younger generations.
She said Hong Kong will host the second edition of the Youth Development Summit this year while continually increasing and optimizing youth exchange and internship programs on the Chinese mainland and overseas, hoping that these events create a broader stage for young people’s employment and entrepreneurship.
Enhancing the roles of district councils and community care teams are another priority for the bureau in the year ahead, Mak said.
She noted that the 452 community care teams across the city organized visits to over 340,000 households last year, providing around 36,000 basic home and other support services. That spirit of selfless dedication is recognized by society, Mak said.
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The government will make public service and welfare core missions in district governance and adopt more innovative approaches to build a harmonious community, she added.
Mak said that the Hong Kong Excellence Family Awards will be held in the second quarter of this year to encourage greater attention and care for family members and households, promoting positive family values and harmony in society.
At the end of her speech, Mak reaffirmed the bureau’s commitment to meeting the hopes and challenges of 2025 with unwavering dedication.
