HKSAR Young People to Work at the United Nations

     The Launch Ceremony of the First Batch of HKSAR Junior Professional Officers Recommended by the Central Government of the PRC to the United Nations was held today (December 23) at the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OCMFA) to mark the occasion of five Hong Kong young people taking up positions in different agencies of the United Nations (UN).
 
     With the support of the Central People’s Government and the assistance of the OCMFA, five young public officers from the Administration Wing, Hong Kong Observatory and Electrical and Mechanical Services Department of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), as well as the Independent Commission Against Corruption have been recommended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to participate in the UN Junior Professional Officer (JPO) Programme.  The UN is composed of sovereign states and participants of the programme must be sent by member states.
 
     This is the first time that the HKSAR has taken part in the JPO Programme.  It is a major breakthrough for Hong Kong’s conduct of external affairs and for young people from Hong Kong to enter the international arena.
 
     The five Hong Kong young people will be working in the UN offices in New York, United States, Geneva, Switzerland, and Vienna, Austria as Chinese personnel.  They are expected to report duty to the UN next year for a two-year tenure.
 
     The HKSAR Government attaches great importance to youth development and is committed to facilitating young people to widen their horizons outside Hong Kong.  The HKSAR Government has seconded civil servants to work in international organisations.  Hong Kong young public officers being recommended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work in different UN agencies on the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the People's Republic of China carries special significance.
 
     The Chief Executive, Mrs Carrie Lam, said during the ceremony that, “under the ‘one country, two systems’ principle, we enjoy the unique advantages of being backed by the Motherland and open to the world.  Based on the principle of ‘one country’, Hong Kong young public officers can enter the UN as Chinese personnel, shouldering the international obligations and sharing the glory of the rising international status of our country.  Owing to the advantages under ‘two systems’, Hong Kong as Asia’s World City has nurtured young talents with global vision and multicultural exchange capability.”
 
     The Chief Executive encouraged the five young people to work in the UN agencies with passion for making contributions to the world.  At the same time, the HKSAR Government will continue to proactively develop external affairs in accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China.