The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, chaired the third meeting of the second-term Human Resources Planning Commission held online this afternoon (December 15).　
Representatives of the Home Affairs Bureau and Labour Department briefed Members on the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the GBA Youth Employment Scheme in the Chief Executive's 2020 Policy Address.
Mr Cheung pointed out that the GBA is one of the most open and economically vibrant regions in the country, offering more career development pathways for young people in Hong Kong.
"The Government will do its best in providing more information on development opportunities in the GBA to members of the public, and in particular the young generation, so that young people who are interested in pursuing a career in the GBA could plan and prepare according to their own abilities and interests," said Mr Cheung.
Regarding the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the GBA implemented by the Youth Development Commission under the Youth Development Fund, Members noted that the Scheme aims to encourage Hong Kong young people to make optimal use of the innovative and entrepreneurial bases in GBA to help them develop their businesses in both Hong Kong and Mainland GBA cities.
Once the epidemic situation has stabilised and cross-border travel resumed, the Government will launch the Scheme to subsidise over 10 non-governmental organisations to implement youth entrepreneurship projects. It is estimated that about $100 million will be provided for nearly 200 youth start-ups, while start-up support and incubation services will be rendered to about 4 000 young people. Guangdong and the Mainland cities of the GBA have agreed to support the Scheme by providing co-working bases and letting Hong Kong young people enjoy the same treatment and support as their peers in the Mainland. In addition, the Government will establish the Alliance of Hong Kong Youth Innovative and Entrepreneurial Bases in the Greater Bay Area to serve as a one-stop information, publicity and exchange platform to further support innovation and entrepreneurship by Hong Kong youth in the GBA. Members welcomed the new initiatives on supporting youth entrepreneurship announced in the Policy Address and offered views on how to further support young people in Hong Kong to start their own businesses during the epidemic.
As for the GBA Youth Employment Scheme announced in the Policy Address, Members noted that the Scheme aims to encourage enterprises with operations in both Hong Kong and the GBA to recruit and deploy local university graduates to work in the Mainland cities of the GBA. Under the Scheme, the Government will grant subsidies to the participating enterprises for a period of up to 18 months. The Scheme will provide 2 000 job positions, including several hundred places related to innovation and technology. Members noted the framework of the Scheme and discussed how to assist young people in Hong Kong to further seize the enormous development potential of the GBA and explore more quality and diverse employment opportunities.
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