Youth Development Commission convenes 20th meeting
The Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Chan Kwok-ki, chaired the 20th meeting of the Youth Development Commission (YDC) today (November 18).
At the meeting, members were briefed by government representatives on the new initiatives relating to youth development in "The Chief Executive's 2025 Policy Address". Members were pleased to note that the Policy Address has introduced a series of measures to promote youth exchange and development, providing continuous all-round support for young people to unleash their potential. Among other initiatives, the Government will launch the Young Talent Training Programme, which includes (i) providing more opportunities for young people to intern at international organisations and attend international conferences; (ii) introducing a new media thematic internship programme on the Mainland; (iii) strengthening the Youth Financial Education Programme; and (iv) launching new mediation workshops to enhance young people's understanding of the mediation industry.
Furthermore, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) reported on the latest progress of promoting youth innovation and entrepreneurship at the meeting. The Alliance of Hong Kong Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases in the Greater Bay Area, established by the HYAB together with the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People's Government of Guangdong Province, and the Human Resources and Social Security Department of Guangdong Province, has pooled resources from 70 member organisations to provide a one-stop information, publicity and exchange platform to support Hong Kong young people who start businesses in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA). Funded projects under the new round of the HYAB Funding Scheme for Youth Entrepreneurship in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the HYAB Funding Scheme for Experiential Programmes at Innovation and Entrepreneurial Bases have also commenced progressively since this year. The funding schemes respectively provide capital funding and entrepreneurial support and incubation services for youth start-ups and facilitate young people in exploring the on-site entrepreneurial environment in the GBA and other Mainland provinces and municipalities.
Mr Chan said, "The latest Policy Address continues to inject fresh impetus into youth development work. The Government will continue to work hand in hand with the YDC in future, rallying the strength of all sectors of society to implement the various youth development measures in the Policy Address and the Youth Development Blueprint, helping young people achieve their aspirations and realise their full potential."
At the meeting, Mr Chan also appealed to members to cast their votes on the polling day of the Legislative Council (LegCo) General Election on December 7 and to help promote the election among their family members, relatives, friends and affiliated associations, so as to elect a new term of responsible, visionary and capable LegCo Members.
Youth Development Commission convenes 20th meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
Youth Development Commission convenes 20th meeting Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases
TD urges public and visitors to plan cross-boundary trips early during long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays
The Transport Department (TD) announced today (April 1) that, in anticipation of a large number of members of the public, visitors and cross-boundary vehicles visiting land-based boundary control points (BCPs) during the long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays, cross-boundary travellers are urged to use public transport services travelling between Hong Kong and the Mainland or Macao, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time.
Enhancing services for travel convenience
The TD has been steering local and cross-boundary public transport operators (PTOs) to strengthen their services during the long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays to accommodate the diverse travelling needs of passengers, including:
- The MTR Corporation Limited will enhance the train services of the East Rail Line (ERL) between Admiralty and Lo Wu/Lok Ma Chau Stations at different times during the above period based on passenger demand for the convenience of residents and visitors;
- Increasing the frequency of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB) shuttle bus (Gold Bus) to an average of about one minute during peak hours, if needed;
- Increasing the frequency of the Lok Ma Chau-Huanggang cross-boundary shuttle bus (Yellow Bus) to an average of about two minutes during peak hours, if needed;
- Increasing the quota of cross-boundary coaches to strengthen services; and
- The frequency of local franchised bus B routes connecting various land-based BCPs will also be increased to a level higher than that of normal weekends, and the operators concerned will reserve sufficient vehicles and manpower to meet passenger demand.
Travel during non-peak hours
It is anticipated that the waiting time for public transport services, including the Gold Bus and the franchised bus B routes, may be longer. Passengers are advised to travel during non-peak hours, maintain order while queuing and heed advice from on-site Police and staff of PTOs concerned. Passengers planning to take cross-boundary coaches are also advised to reserve their coach tickets in advance.
Of note, HZMB users to Zhuhai should note that the temporary link bridge connecting HZMB Zhuhai Port and Qinglu South Road has been closed to all traffic. They should use public transport services as far as possible, plan their trips early and allow sufficient travelling time. The traffic of Zhuhai Port and neighbouring roads may also be affected, and passengers should remain patient while waiting.
As for motorists of cross-boundary private cars crossing the border, they are advised that special traffic arrangements may be implemented at the Lok Ma Chau and the Shenzhen Bay Port, subject to actual traffic conditions, during the long weekend of Easter and Ching Ming Festival holidays to secure smooth access for public transport vehicles to the above BCPs. Cross-boundary private cars may experience longer waiting times for crossing the BCPs during peak periods. Motorists should pay extra attention to variable message signs and traffic signs along the roads. In case of traffic congestion, they should remain patient and follow the instructions of on-site Police.
Information dissemination
For the HZMB, to plan their journeys ahead, members of the public can make use of the TD's HKeMobility mobile app or website (hkemobility.gov.hk/en/traffic-information/live/cctv) to access snapshots of traffic conditions at inbound and outbound vehicle plazas of the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They can also check real-time situations of the vehicle clearance plaza of the Zhuhai Port through the WeChat official accounts "hzmbzhport" or "zhuhaifabu" (traffic-info.gzazhka.com:5015/#/) (Chinese only). Moreover, motorists are reminded to always comply with the traffic control measures implemented by the Zhuhai authority when driving on the HZMB Main Bridge. Vehicles must not occupy the emergency lane unless instructed by the Zhuhai authority.
The public and visitors may visit the one-stop information platform on immigration clearance "Easy Boundary" (www.sb.gov.hk/eng/bwt/status.html?type=outbound) of the Security Bureau or the HKeMobility for the latest information on various land-based BCPs more conveniently. The TD will provide information on the services and waiting times of the Gold Bus, the Yellow Bus and the MTR. Members of the public are advised to check the latest traffic news through radio and television broadcasts, the TD's website (www.td.gov.hk) and the HKeMobility.
The TD's Emergency Transport Co-ordination Centre operates round the clock to closely monitor the traffic conditions and public transport services of various districts, the BCPs and major stations, and to implement contingency measures when necessary to meet service demands.
The Transport Department (TD), Photo by Bastille Post
