HYAB Launches New UN Volunteer Internship Programme for Local Undergraduates

HYAB launches new round of HYAB - United Nations Volunteer Internship Programme

The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB), in partnership with the United Nations Volunteers, the Agency for Volunteer Service (AVS), the Hong Kong Volunteers Association and the Peace and Development Foundation, today (December 19) launched a new round of the HYAB - United Nations Volunteer Internship Programme. Local undergraduate students are welcome to apply.

In the 2025 Policy Address, the Chief Executive emphasised that the Government would continue to promote youth development. This includes providing more opportunities for young people to participate in the internships of international organisations and attend international conferences, in order to broaden their international horizons and cultivate a holistic outlook. The HYAB - United Nations Volunteer Internship Programme provides local undergraduate students with valuable opportunities to undertake six-month volunteer internships in the overseas field units of various United Nations (UN) agencies. Interns will be able to develop their personal capacities and gain insights into global issues, as well as contribute to the international community as Chinese youth volunteers. So far, around 150 students have participated in the Programme. The selected university students for the Programme in 2025 undertook internships in UN agencies located in different countries, including the UN Development Programme, the UN Children's Fund, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. By participating in international affairs, they contributed their expertise and acquired valuable work experience in international organisations.

The new round of the Programme will offer a total of 20 internship placements in different UN agencies located in the Belt and Road region, including Kazakhstan, Laos, Nepal, Thailand, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The volunteer internships will cover specific areas, such as health and education, environment and innovation management, and will run from July to December 2026. Applicants should be full-time undergraduate students of local universities. The HYAB will provide full funding, including round-trip air tickets and monthly living allowances, and offer suitable pre-departure training for participants in collaboration with the AVS.

Details of the Programme are available on the designated webpage (www.avs.org.hk/eng/UNV). Interested young people should submit applications by noon on January 16, 2026.

Source: AI-found images

Incoming passenger convicted and jailed for possession of duty-not-paid cigarettes

An incoming female passenger was sentenced to two months' imprisonment by the Fanling Magistrates' Courts today (December 19) for possessing duty-not-paid cigarettes and failing to declare them to Customs officers, in contravention of the Dutiable Commodities Ordinance (DCO).

Customs officers intercepted a 62-year-old incoming female passenger at the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point yesterday (December 18), and seized 381 sticks of duty-not-paid cigarettes with an estimated market value of about $1,500 and a duty potential of about $1,200 from her. She was subsequently arrested.

Customs welcomes the sentence. The custodial sentence has imposed a considerable deterrent effect and reflects the seriousness of the offences.

Customs reminds members of the public that under the DCO, cigarettes are dutiable goods to which the DCO applies. Any person who imports, deals with, possesses, sells or buys illicit cigarettes commits an offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $2 million and imprisonment for seven years.

Members of the public may report any suspected illicit cigarette activities to Customs' 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).