The Fire Services Department (FSD) announced today (December 14) that it has established the Fire and Ambulance Services Teen Connect (FAST Connect) to provide a wide range of practical training programmes for youth. The Director of Fire Services, Mr Joseph Leung, officiated at the inauguration ceremony held at the Fire and Ambulance Services Academy. The Honorary Commissioners and representatives from participating schools also attended the ceremony.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Leung said, "The FSD has all along been striving to promote youth development. We endeavour to help young people cultivate positive thinking as well as enhance their resilience, team spirit and self-discipline through various activities and programmes so that they can broaden their horizons and develop their potential to the full.
"With the training programmes provided by the FAST Connect, the FSD hopes to equip youth with a rich learning experience. Such experience may also attract them to join the FSD in the future after they have seized the opportunity to learn more about FSD work."
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has always attached great importance to youth development. The disciplined services departments under the Security Bureau have also been actively engaging in youth work in recent years. One of the new initiatives raised in the 2021 Policy Address regarding youth development promotion was to strengthen the youth-related work of the six disciplined services and two auxiliary services.
With a view to helping youth cultivate positive thinking, law-abiding awareness, self-discipline and team spirit, the FSD decided to establish a new youth uniformed group. The FSD established the FAST Connect after consolidating its experiences in youth work throughout the years. Apart from practical trainings on basic fire-fighting and rescue techniques, basic first-aid skills and fire safety knowledge, the programmes will also cover national education, including the Chinese-style foot drill to enhance the sense of belonging to the country among youth. Exchange sessions with community leaders and Hong Kong elite athletes will also be arranged for the members.
Mr Leung hoped that all members would actively participate in the trainings arranged by the FSD and grasp the chance to acquire new knowledge. They could learn more about the country's development and build a good character through various training programmes, with a view to laying a solid foundation for academic and career success in the future. At the ceremony, Mr Leung also presented certificates to the Honorary Commissioners in recognition of their support to the FAST Connect.
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