SHYA starts visit to Guangzhou (with photos)

     The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, arrived in Guangzhou this morning (March 1) to start her visit there.

     Miss Mak, accompanied by the Commissioner for Youth, Mr Eric Chan, met with the Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province (GDHKMAO), Ms Chen Li-wen in the morning. They exchanged views on the joint promotion of youth development in Guangdong and Hong Kong, including deepening youth exchanges between the two places. Miss Mak shared the vision and general direction of the Youth Development Blueprint released by the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), as well as the latest progress of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government's work in promoting youth development. She said that the HYAB will continue to work closely with the GDHKMAO to provide a favourable environment and offer comprehensive support to youth development.

     In the afternoon, Miss Mak attended a sharing session regarding Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) youth innovation and entrepreneurship. Speaking at the event, she said that the HKSAR Government encourages young people in Hong Kong to seize the opportunities brought by the development of the GBA and develop a business there. The HYAB, the GDHKMAO and the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province jointly established the Alliance of Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases in the Greater Bay Area in December last year. About 60 representative organisations from various sectors in Hong Kong and other cities of the GBA joined the Alliance to set up a one-stop information, publicity and communication platform.

     About 50 members of the Youth Link, who are participating in exchange activities in Guangzhou, joined the sharing session. They interacted with the speakers and gathered information on living and developing careers in the GBA.

     Miss Mak then visited the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province and met with its Director-General, Mr Du Minqi. They exchanged views on encouraging Hong Kong youth to start businesses in the GBA and strengthening collaboration between youth innovation and entrepreneurship bases in Guangdong and Hong Kong. Miss Mak shared the latest developments of the Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area under the Youth Development Fund launched by the HYAB and the Youth Development Commission. She stated that the HYAB will continue to work closely with the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province to promote youth innovation and entrepreneurship.

     In the evening, Miss Mak and members of the Youth Link met with representatives of the Hong Kong's chambers of commerce in Guangdong Province to learn about their living and working conditions on the Mainland. Miss Mak encouraged young people to grasp the opportunities to study, conduct exchanges and start a business on the Mainland, so as to enhance their understanding of the development of the country and contribute to the country and Hong Kong.

     Miss Mak will continue her visit to Guangzhou and Foshan tomorrow (March 2), and return to Hong Kong on the same day.